The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on California’s Registered Nurse Workforce: Preliminary Data

Author: Joanne Spetz, PhD | Lela Chu | Lisel Blash, MPA, MS

Topics: COVID-19, Nursing, Workforce Demand, Workforce Supply

Research Center: UCSF Health Workforce Research Center on Long-Term Care

September 14, 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous concerns about the nursing workforce have been reported. With a shortage of registered nurses (RNs) likely underway now, employers need to ramp up their efforts to retain RNs and develop career paths for newly-graduated RNs. They also need to rapidly develop and implement strategies to mitigate the potential harm of shortages over the next 5 years.

This report reviews the supply and demand of RNs in California and how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the nursing workforce.

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