Close to 300,000 actively licensed registered nurses (RNs) reside in California, making nursing the single largest health
profession in the state. In the last 10 to 15 years, nurses’ roles have expanded as they have taken on more responsibility
for the delivery of health care. Recognizing the key role that nurses play in providing care to patients across the health
care system, legislators have passed nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in hospitals, colleges have increased the number of
educational programs, and private-sector investments have supported the growth of the profession’s ability to meet
demand. This report examines California’s nursing workforce, including supply, education, and demographics.