According to a new survey, California has 25% fewer nurses per patients than the average for the rest of the country, earning a "C" grade on its nurse job to population ratio. The California Institute for Nursing and Health Care (CINHC) study found that the state averaged 644 nurses per 100,000 persons, that's compared to the national average of 859 nurses per 100,000. While the study did find that the state had done a better job at increasing the nurse job ratio between 2004 and 2010, it was not enough to fix the shortfall. According to analysts, an ideal "A" rating would be a ratio of 1,257 or more nurses per 100,000 patients. Deloras Jones, executive director of CINHC, said California must increase efforts to ensure that more health care workers add a nursing degree to their resumes. "This study supports the need to maintain capacity in nursing schools as a high priority since California lags behind most states in RN utilization. The report card is invaluable for regional planning efforts," Jones stressed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for registered nurses (RNs) are expected to be excellent, growing by 22%, through the end of the decade. |