“The bottom line is that there is a critical need for nurses, and the state’s programs are not able to meet the need,” declares Liz Jacobs, spokeswoman for the California Nurses Association.  Donna Fox, a registered nurse and CNA regulatory policy specialist, echoes her concern. “A recent survey found that 17,000 qualified nursing-school applications were not accepted because there was no room. It’s a bad situation in terms of the aging of the population, the nursing shortage and the shortage of nursing schools.”  The is no shortage of men and women wanting to fill the nursing need, but there aren’t enough nursing schools to handle the demand. Nursing schools across California have long waiting lists and not nearly enough slots for even the most qualified candidates. Read more…