FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC)
Diana Torres, diana.torres@arroyowest.com
New First-of-Its-Kind Report Calls for Regional Action to Address Los Angeles County’s Worsening Nursing Shortage
A comprehensive regional study developed by cross-sector partners reveals systemic gaps in the nursing pipeline and outlines coordinated strategies to protect patient care and ensure new nurses can enter the workforce and stay in the profession.
Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County is confronting a worsening nursing shortage that is placing growing pressure on hospitals, straining healthcare teams, and jeopardizing the quality and accessibility of patient care. A new report released today, From Pipeline to Pathway: Strengthening Los Angeles County’s Nursing Workforce for the Future, finds that without coordinated regional action, the county risks deepening a crisis in which fewer nurses enter the profession and far too many leave it early.
Commissioned by the Los Angeles County Nursing 2035 Steering Committee, the report was developed through a collaboration between the Los Angeles Regional Consortium, the California State University system, the Education Strategy Group, the Burning Glass Institute, and the Los Angeles Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research. Drawing on extensive labor market data and insights from more than 40 interviews with leaders across higher education, hospitals, workforce development, and community-based organizations, the study provides the clearest picture to date of the structural challenges facing the nursing pipeline.
The report documents a system stretched thin on multiple fronts. Los Angeles County had nearly 5,000 open registered nurse positions last year but produced only about 4,400 graduates. Many new nurses struggle to get hired because residency slots are limited and hiring pathways are inconsistent, while hospitals continue to face high turnover and burnout among early-career nurses. Colleges cannot expand nursing program capacity due to faculty shortages and too few clinical placement opportunities. Together, these pressures mean fewer nurses enter the workforce and the few who do, do not stay.
A central conclusion of the report is that Los Angeles County’s nursing ecosystem is fragmented. Colleges, hospitals, and workforce organizations often work separately, resulting in duplicated efforts, inconsistent clinical placement processes, and limited shared data. The report recommends establishing or designating a regional intermediary to coordinate planning, align goals, and create a more seamless pathway for new nurses.
“The nursing shortage demands strong cross-sector collaboration, and LARC is proud to support our 19 community colleges as they work to bridge the gaps contributing to this crisis,” said Dr. Narineh Makijan, Assistant Vice President and Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Consortium. “This report shows what’s possible when education, healthcare, and workforce partners come together, and LARC is excited to bring stakeholders into long-term planning that strengthens pathways from education to employment across the region.”
“This report is an important milestone for Los Angeles County. Cerritos College is proud to partner with community colleges, the CSU system, hospitals, and workforce leaders to expand opportunities for nursing students, especially those from communities most impacted by health inequities. By working together, we can remove barriers, strengthen educational pathways, and build a more diverse and resilient nursing workforce for the region,” said Dr. Jose Fierro, LARC CEO Co-Chair and President/Superintendent of Cerritos College.
The report outlines coordinated strategies to strengthen both entry into the nursing workforce and long-term retention. Key recommendations include:
- Expanding instructional and clinical capacity by addressing faculty shortages and improving the efficiency of clinical placement systems.
- Aligning ADN-to-BSN pathways to reduce credit loss, streamline transfer, and create a more seamless academic progression.
- Strengthening transition-to-practice and residency programs to support new graduates as they develop clinical competence and confidence.
- Developing shared regional data systems to track supply, demand, and workforce outcomes and guide long-term planning.
- Improving early-career supports such as structured mentorship, consistent onboarding, and reduced administrative burdens to increase retention in the first years of practice.
“The CSU system is committed to working closely with our education, healthcare and workforce partners to make students’ pathways into nursing clearer and more supportive,” said Dr. Mildred García, chancellor of the California State University. “When we align our efforts, we not only strengthen the region’s nursing workforce, but we also create the conditions for better patient care across Los Angeles County and pave the way for similar collaboratives across the state.” Said Dr. Mildred Garcia, Chancellor of The California State University.
While focused on Los Angeles County, the report’s approach combines quantitative data with insights from students, educators, and frontline staff which offers a model that other regions could implement. Its recommendations emphasize alignment across education and healthcare systems, a goal that directly reflects the ongoing collaboration between the county’s community colleges and the California State University system.
The LA County Nursing 2035 Steering Committee will continue working with partners to advance the report’s recommendations and strengthen the region’s ability to train, hire, and retain nurses. With sustained coordination, Los Angeles County can build a more modern, equitable, and resilient nursing workforce.
“The data in this report makes clear where the nursing pipeline is falling short and what it will take to strengthen the region’s workforce,” Said Jim Mangia, President and CEO St John’s Community Health “If partners commit to these recommendations, Los Angeles County can bring more nurses into the profession, support them to stay, and build a more stable and resilient workforce for the future.”
Additional interviews with report researchers are available upon request.
ABOUT LARC
The Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC) represents the 19 community colleges in Los Angeles County, coordinating regional efforts to strengthen career education and align programs with workforce needs.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR LABOR MARKET RESEARCH
The Los Angeles Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research (LA COE) provides data and labor market analysis to help colleges and regional partners design programs that meet industry demand.
ABOUT CSU SYSTEM
The California State University (CSU) is the nation’s largest four-year public university system and a major producer of California’s nursing workforce, committed to equitable access and student success across its 23 campuses.
ABOUT THE STEERING COMMITTEE (Education Strategy Group, the Burning Glass Institute)
The Nursing 2035 Steering Committee unites education, healthcare, and workforce leaders to advance long-term strategies for strengthening Los Angeles County’s nursing pipeline.
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