Number of California RN Graduates Jumps 71.6% Over Five-Year Period

The number of registered nurse graduates in California has increased by 71.6% since the state launched the California Nurse Education Initiative five years ago, the Central Valley Business Times reports (Central Valley Business Times, 6/22).

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) announced the increase with the release of the annual California Nurse Education Initiative report, which was prepared by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (Office of the Governor release, 6/22).

The nurse education initiative began as a five-year, $90 million public-private partnership designed to expand nursing education capacity, faculty development and student support services. Last year, the program was extended with a new five-year, $60 million partnership.

Growth in Nursing Workforce

During the first five years of the program, California's nursing workforce increased from 589 RNs per 100,000 people in 2005 to 653 RNs per 100,000 people. The figure is still below the national average of 825 RNs per 100,000 people (Central Valley Business Times, 6/22).

Since 2005, California also has seen an expansion of nursing education programs as well as an increase in the number of students enrolled in such programs (Office of the Governor release, 6/22).