To combat a critical 46 percent shortfall of registered nurses in the San Diego region, MiraCosta College has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Rebuilding Nursing Infrastructure (RNI) state grant to significantly expand its nursing program. The funding, part of a statewide initiative to rebuild nursing infrastructure, will allow the college to increase student enrollment by 26 percent, enhance clinical training through new simulation technologies, establish CSU transfer partnerships, and create an innovative LVN-to-RN apprenticeship model, addressing urgent regional and statewide workforce needs.

The grant directly addresses a worsening healthcare crisis in North County. The San Diego region faces an urgent 46 percent shortfall in registered nurses, with 1,925 open positions and only 1,037 new graduates in 2022-2023, according to regional labor market data. This shortage is intensified by a rapidly aging population, with the number of residents 65 and older projected to grow 32 percent by 2050, and significant local health disparities, including limited access to care and higher-than-average mortality rates from chronic diseases (San Diego Association of Governments).

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency further reports higher-than-average mortality rates from stroke, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Access to care is limited, with 16.3 percent of local residents uninsured and only 5.1 percent of providers accepting public insurance.

Based on 2022–2023 workforce data, the San Diego region is facing an urgent shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs), with 1,925 job openings reported against only 1,037 graduates from local nursing programs. This disparity creates a significant supply gap of 888 RNs, representing a 46 percent shortfall in meeting local workforce demands. Of the total graduates, 299 came from San Diego's community college RN programs. These local figures are a direct reflection of a broader statewide crisis, as California experienced a similar 43 percent shortfall during the same period, with approximately 25,136 annual job openings and only 13,989 new graduates entering the workforce. Compounding this issue, employment for RNs in the San Diego region is projected to grow by another 8 percent by 2027, further intensifying the need to address the nursing shortage (Labor Market Data for Registered Nurses in the San Diego-Imperial Region, 2025)

“MiraCosta College is committed to training highly skilled, compassionate nurses who reflect and serve our diverse communities,” said Dr. Yvette Duncan. “This grant enables us to scale up our programs and remove barriers to both education and employment in the healthcare sector.”

ADN Program Expansion: Increase annual enrollment by 18 students to meet rising regional demand.

LVN-to-RN Apprenticeship Program: Develop a workforce-integrated pathway that allows vocational nurses to complete RN training at their place of employment.

CSU Transfer Partnerships: Improve BSN transfer rates through new concurrent enrollment programs with CSU San Marcos and San Diego State University.

ACEN Accreditation: Fund the final phase of national accreditation to expand transfer and employment opportunities.

Faculty Recruitment and Development: Train and onboard 7 new nursing faculty through regional boot camps.

Clinical Placement Expansion: Hire a dedicated placement coordinator and increase use of simulation and virtual reality technologies to supplement limited acute care placements.

Equipment Modernization: Invest in simulation labs, hospital beds, medication dispensing machines, and pediatric and birthing simulators to enhance hands-on student learning.

This investment builds upon MiraCosta’s prior efforts, including the recent opening of Teresia M. Heyen Hall for Nursing & Allied Health, a 20,450-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility funded through Measure MM.

This funding directly translates into a better learning experience," explains Duncan. "Our students will train on the same state-of-the-art simulation equipment they will use in a hospital, making them more confident and clinically competent on day one of their careers."

Summary: MiraCosta College received a $1.2 million state grant to expand its nursing program and address a 46 percent shortage of registered nurses in San Diego. The funding will support new apprenticeships, CSU transfer pathways, and hands-on clinical training using advanced simulation technology.