Strategies like higher student enrollment and innovative bachelor?s degree programs at Sacramento State aim to ease a serious shortage of nurses spotlighted by a recent call by Gov. Gray Davis for lower patient-to-nurse ratios in California.

The energetic recruitment efforts by state officials and nursing leaders illustrates how serious the problem is, and observers say it will only get worse.

Sac State?s nursing program created ten new student slots this academic year, bringing the total to 60. Thirteen additional undergraduate students are in programs designed to allow licensed nurses to upgrade their credentials.

And classroom facilities for nursing have been expanded with modular units to accommodate the increase in students.

A new collaborative with Sacramento City College allows nursing students at the community college to study part-time at Sac State and earn a bachelor?s degree after one additional semester at the university.

“I chose nursing because I really like the fact that you get to help people,” said Heather Keck, nursing student at Sac State. “It?s so dynamic and fast-paced. I think people enter nursing who know they don?t want a desk job.”

Her interest in science and the opportunity to explore a variety of jobs within the profession attracted her to the program. She will graduate and start working in a hospital this spring.

Keck hopes the new state-mandated nurse-patient ratios announced by Gov. Gray Davis helps attract more people to nursing.

“I hope they put their money where their mouth is,” Keck said referring to state officials. Next year the number of medical or surgical patients per nurse on a typical unit will be six. Eventually, the governor?s plan calls for a ratio of 5-1.

The new ratios mean at least 5000 new nurses are needed along with funds to educate them, not including replacements for nurses who retire.

According to the State Board of Registered Nursing, the average age of practicing nurses in California is 46.

On Jan.24, Davis announced his three-year, $60 million Nurse Workforce Initiative that includes dollars for nursing education, recruitment and retention.

“I find that we have quite a bit of scholarship money available to (nursing) students here at Sac State,” said Dean of Nursing Robyn Nelson. “I think we?ll see no problem in people getting financial aid in some form. It?s one of the governor?s commitments.”

In addition to state and federal loans and scholarships available to all students, numerous private endowments for nursing education are available at Sac State.

Registered nurses earn between $24 and $30 per hour to start after passing state licensing exams, depending on geographic location, according to the Coalition for Nursing Careers in California.

Nurse practitioners, who usually hold master?s degrees, typically earn $70,000 yearly and can work as hospital administrators or nursing instruction. Administration jobs at hospitals, nursing instructors.

According to Nelson, Sac State?s nursing program is unique in the high number of faculty with doctorates in nursing and its proximity to state government gives students an excellent opportunity to see health care public policy being made and implemented.