Senator Roth’s Transformative More Pathways to Nursing Legislation Heads to the Governor’s Desk

Sacramento—Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside) transformative More Pathways to Nursing legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 895, has overwhelmingly passed both houses of the California Legislature and heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. SB 895 creates a pilot program for a limited number of community college districts to offer a Bachelor’s in Nursing Degree (BSN), which has increasingly become a requirement for employment at many healthcare facilities throughout the state.

“The Legislature’s passage of SB 895 is a significant step forward in expanding the opportunities for a wide and diverse array of students to achieve a BSN,” said Roth. “The landscape of healthcare in our state has radically shifted over the years and we must find new and innovative ways to meet the demands of those changes, and our More Pathways to Nursing legislation does just that.”

“I am proud to join Senator Roth in authoring this important piece of legislation. By allowing select community college districts to offer a Bachelor’s in Nursing degree, we are making the nursing profession more accessible. For regions like mine that are historically underserved and continue to suffer from a healthcare workforce shortage, this program is a game changer. Associate Degree in Nursing graduates will have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor’s in Nursing close to home, as they provide critical healthcare services in their communities and care for their families” said Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced).

For over 40 years, the community college ADN has been the basic credential for entry into employment as an RN at a healthcare facility; and, the California State University and University of California nursing programs (along with the State’s private nursing programs) have historically awarded the BSN degree to those who elect to pursue a four-year degree. In 2021- 22, community college ADN graduates represented over 40% of all students completing a pre-licensure nursing program in California. However, an increasing number of healthcare facilities are now preferring, if not requiring, new hires to have a BSN degree.

SB 895 would authorize the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to select up to 10 community college districts to offer a BSN degree. In order to be selected a community college district must have  an existing nationally accredited ADN program and priority selection for this pilot will be given to those community college districts in nursing underserved areas of the state  This pilot program will enable California to utilize the existing ADN program infrastructure at community colleges to supplement the work of existing public and private BSN programs to produce BSN degreed nurses who are qualified to become supervisors and managers in healthcare facilities, and who are qualified to become Master’s or Doctorate degreed nurse practitioners in independent practice settings, and as members of nursing school faculty. Since ADN students are already licensed RNs, no supervised clinical placement slots are required for this program. By supplementing the work of our existing public and private BSN programs in this way, additional BSN degreed nurses will be added to the workforce.

SB 895 would further direct the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to develop a process to assist community college districts, without a nationally accredited ADN program, secure national accreditation to qualify for  selection  to administer the pilot program.

“SB 895 presents a remarkable opportunity to combat the state’s nursing workforce crisis by tapping into the Associate Degree for Nursing (ADN) infrastructure at community colleges,” wrote Sonya Christian, Chancellor, California Community Colleges, in her letter of support for SB 895. “We graduate approximately 4,600 ADNs every year and contribute 21% of the state’s demand for nurses. Yet, a nursing workforce crisis exists, in part, because California’s nursing schools do not have the capacity to meet employer demand for nurses with a baccalaureate degree. Approximately 20,000 qualified students are denied admission to four-year university programs each year. SB 895 provides many of these students with an opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing, which will help the state eliminate regional health disparities.”

“California’s community colleges have historically addressed community needs through education, workforce development, and industry relationships. SB 895 enables those students who have completed their ADN, a way to earn their BSN within the community colleges,” said Larry Galizio, President & CEO of the Community College League of California. “The League is grateful to Sen. Roth for his leadership with SB 895 and the partners who have joined us to champion affordable and accessible nursing education.”

“As a nurse and union President, I witness firsthand the many challenges faced by community college nurses striving to attain their BSN degrees,” said Charmaine Morales, President of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. “Many of our nurses at UNAC/UHCP earned their ADNs at community colleges, myself included, and I did it while juggling the responsibilities of raising 4 children. Many former ADN nurse members have shared with me the arduous journey to secure their BSNs. Hindered by limited slots in CSU programs; many were compelled to pursue private schooling, at more expense. These financial burdens, coupled with lost earnings due to delays in matriculation, have plunged countless nurses into dire financial straits. SB 895 offers a beacon of hope by empowering nurses within the pilot program to remain in their community and serve their local communities, fostering a more diverse and representative nursing workforce.”

“No one seems to disagree—the public, the privates, the community colleges, the health care community—that we need more credentialed nurses now and in the future,” said Roth. “The studies and surveys, the workplace, and the growing trend to prefer BSN students in hospital clinical placement programs right now all tell us that. So, given our current and future budget challenges and the high cost of setting up and expanding undergraduate nursing programs—both in terms of the cost of the equipment and brick-and-mortar facilities and the low faculty-to-student ratios required, why not try using the underutilized team member with campuses most accessible to students? One with a core cadre of fully trained and licensed ADNs ready to earn the relatively few humanities, leadership, and community health course units remaining for the BSN credential at their local community college as they perform critical health care delivery duties in our local communities. It is critical that we use all the tools in our toolbox to address the need. The time to try it is now.”