The Southern California region known as the Inland Empire faces a myriad of problems when it comes to health care. Designated by the federal government as a “medically underserved area,” the region of 4 million-plus people is grappling with a nursing and doctor shortage as well as high infant mortality rates. These issues are being exacerbated by the needs of the area’s rapidly growing older population — in Riverside County, the number of residents older than 60 is projected to reach more than 695,000 by 2030, an increase of 97% since 2010.footnote1
To address this acute need for more medical professionals, the Riverside City College School of Nursing is establishing new pathways to nursing careers. A grant from Bank of America is helping fund programs for students to earn associate’s or master’s degrees in nursing, train to become primary care nurse practitioners, or shift from being a paramedic to a registered nurse. The funding also helps the school recruit a diverse pipeline of students and develop curriculum.
The RCC School of Nursing currently serves roughly 600 students each year, with the vast majority staying in the Inland Empire after graduation. In fact, more than 90% of the registered nursing graduates find employment within six months, underscoring the high demand for medical professionals that’s driving this new initiative.
The support for the RCC School of Nursing is an example of how, from entrepreneur funding and expanding home ownership to professional skills training and healthcare access, Bank of America continues to partner with innovative leaders to help communities implement solutions to society’s important challenges.
