A bill in the state senate would allow California State universities to offer doctoral nursing programs. Supporters say the effort would help alleviate a shortage of nursing instructors. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
The number of nursing school graduates in the state has increased by nearly 70 percent over the last five years. But experts say a shortage of nursing instructors will make that growth hard to sustain. Joanne Spetz directs the Center for California Health Workforce Studies at U-C San Francisco.
Spetz: So there are concerns, both in the short term, about how you hire enough faculty to meet the current program expansions, and then in the mid-term, like five or ten years, how are going to replace faculty as they begin to retire."
CSU officials say given the state's budget crisis, it's not the right time to ask lawmakers for money to start the programs. Officials will look to private grants instead.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
