The educational pipeline is forecasted to replace only half of these. Indeed, half of the nurses in California were educated elsewhere. Add to this shortage the fact that the population is expected to grow and age significantly, and it is clear that California will face a health care crisis if it does not take immediate steps to reinvest in the education of its future work force. Kaiser Permanente is very concerned about the future of the nursing work force. The need to ensure competent nurses in sufficient numbers to provide care to our health plan members has been identified as an organizational priority.
Several strategies are currently underway.
We are also working on long-term work force forecasting and are focusing on retention. Finally, we are engaged in several joint ventures with colleges, most notably Holy Names College in Oakland, Calif., to expand opportunities for nurses to pursue baccalaureate and master's-level degrees. The joint venture with Holy Names College uses our National Teleconferencing Network to make a baccalaureate education accessible to nurses at 12 sites throughout the state. Last year 96 Kaiser Permanente nurses graduated from the first program. We began this year with over 190 enrolled.