TGH Board Member Says Davis’ Nursing Plan Falls Short

Governor Gray Davis has proposed a 60 million dollar program to address the state´s nursing shortage. The plan will direct funding towards community college and Cal State University nursing programs to train 24 hundred licensed nurses. According to Pat Dean of the Toulumne General Hospital Board of Trustees, the plan falls short because the heavy workload for prospective nurses in a college curriculum makes it difficult for them to earn a living and attend school full time. She suggests the state could pay students at least part time wages to make it easier for them to attend college without working full time.