The California Report: Health Dialogues
California is facing a critical shortage of nurses, especially at rural hospitals. For years, the number of nurses has failed to keep up with the growing population -- an estimated 16 percent of hospital nursing positions remain vacant. The state's nursing schools are doing everything they can to fill the gap, but are hindered by limited space and funds. Twelve of 13 clinical nursing programs in the state university system don't have enough room to admit all qualified applicants and community colleges hold lotteries to deal with the space crunch. California's law establishing a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio broke new ground nationally, but now the nurses' union says that hospitals want to weaken it. What can be done to ensure that California gets enough nurses?

Call-In Program:
Wednesday, April 10, 2002 at 7pm

In this live call-in program, listeners from around California join host Scott Shafer and a panel of experts in a discussion about California's critical shortage of nurses.

Guests:
  • Kristine Yahn
  • Geri Jenkins
  • Kathleen Dracup

Tune in to KQED public radio or your local public radio station. You can also hear the program live online. To join the discussion, call 800-811-6830.

Special Report, Part 1: Listen
Special Report, Part 2: Listen
Call-In Program: Listen

 
Note: This site is an archive of past Health Dialogues programs. View the new Health Dialogues Web Site here.

Underwritten by a grant from The California Endowment.
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