Sacramento, CA—Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani (D- Livingston) successfully passed legislation to create clear pathways for students interested in a nursing career out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  Assembly Bill 1927 (AB 1927) will ensure vocational nursing schools and psychiatric technician schools grant credit for courses completed in high school. 

California and the nation are experiencing a severe nursing shortage.  According to the state Employment Development Department, California has an annual shortage of 9,900 RNs and that is expected to increase over the next five to ten years.  The Health Resources and Services Administration's National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that California will need an estimated 47,600 RNs by 2010 and 116,600 by 2020.

“California has fallen behind in preparing healthcare professionals for the future.  While there is no single solution, there are steps the State can take to make certain students interested in these professions have a seamless pathway toward becoming licensed.”

In an effort to address the needs of the future workforce, many school districts have developed high school curriculums and Regional Occupation Program courses offered to students who wish to enter into the medical field after high school.  However, a lot of the courses being offered do not qualify as comparable to a vocational nursing program or a psychiatric technician program and students do not receive credit.

To make certain that students who successfully pass these courses in high school do not have to repeat course work, AB 1927 will ensure vocational nursing schools and psychiatric technician schools grant credit for equivalent courses that are completed in high school.  In turn, high schools will be encouraged to consult with vocational nursing schools and psychiatric technician schools to adopt curriculum for efficient transfer of credit for courses that are comparable to curriculum of a vocational nursing program or a psychiatric technician school.

“By creating an apparent career pathway, students who are interested in health care and nursing can complete their vocational nursing and psychiatric technician training and start practicing in faster time,” said Assemblymember Galgiani.   “Many of these students will go on to further their education by entering into Registered Nursing programs, while serving the community as Vocational Nurses.”