Girard is the senior program director for Southwestern University's Nursing and Health Professions Program and lives in Chula Vista.
San Diego student Christopher Vera knew he had found his calling when he saw his beloved grandfather being cared for by nursing staff after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Bella's grandfather passed away a few days later, but the impact the nurses had on him left a mark. Vera wanted to spend his life helping others.
From doctors' offices to hospitals, nurses across the country are providing lifesaving care to people in need. However, despite its importance, there is currently a nursing workforce shortage in the United States, creating a shortage of care in nursing homes and other types of health care facilities. For example, one report in late 2023 found that California currently faces a shortage of approximately 36,000 certified nurses, and that number is expected to increase significantly by 2030.
Not only is there a shortage, but there is also a need to attract potential nurses from the wider community. A 2020 study found that only 19.4 percent of registered nurses in the United States come from underrepresented communities. This is not just a matter of expression. Research has linked this lack of diversity to poorer health and mortality among marginalized populations.
It is clear that we need to attract more people to the nursing profession, including people from underrepresented communities.
In the United States, men of color are among the least represented among nurses. A first-generation Mexican American, Vera was the first in his family to attend college. As an associate nursing student at Southwestern University, he was a maverick.
But Bella said she never forgot her dreams. Two years after she applied to the nursing program, she graduated with an associate's degree in nursing. Along the way, Bella applied to participate in an innovative program called DREAM through the University of California, San Diego.
The DREAM Externship Program is an initiative that allows nursing students from community colleges, such as Southwestern Community College, to receive career guidance and skills training. This will help you prepare for the transition to professional nursing.
Many nurses of color earn an associate degree in nursing as their initial nursing education. Healthcare providers tend to prefer a bachelor's degree in nursing, so this can be a barrier. Through the DREAM program, UC San Diego and its community college partners have created a path to admission to a four-year university and removing barriers to a fulfilling career in nursing.
The DREAM program is a perfect example of how we can help realize the vision of a represented and well-staffed profession. To alleviate the inclusivity and staffing challenges present in the nursing profession, we need to increase access to quality nursing education.
Community colleges like Southwestern Community College play a critical role in that. As a Hispanic-serving institution, 70.2 percent of our enrolled student population is Hispanic or Latino. If we can connect some of these students to high-quality nursing education, we can have a direct impact on their representation in the field.
It can even go beyond programs like DREAM. Senate Bill 895, currently being considered in Sacramento, could authorize up to 30 bachelor's degree programs at community colleges in the state.
If done correctly, this would greatly increase career opportunities for today's community college students. Since many medical institutions prefer a bachelor's degree, this legislation expands her access to four-year degrees and could open new paths into the nursing field.
Opportunities like DREAM and Senate Bill 895 are ways to help address workforce shortages and realize our vision for the professions represented. You just have to prioritize them.
We urge state policymakers to seriously consider Senate Bill 895 as a step forward in increasing access to nursing education. Additionally, we urge other universities across California to consider programs like DREAM to help attract more people to the nursing profession.
And if you, like Vera, feel a calling to nursing, we encourage you to consider pursuing it as a field. Our profession needs more people who feel a deep calling to care for others. As educators, we are here to help you.
