It’s National Nurses Week—a time to honor the dedicated professionals on the frontlines of healthcare. But behind the gratitude is a growing concern: a worsening nursing shortage that’s affecting hospitals and clinics across the Coachella Valley and beyond.
Associate Dean Marcos Gayol from Samuel Merritt University joined The Roggin Report to explain the roots of the crisis and how it’s being felt here at home.
Gayol outlined several key contributors to the national shortage: an aging workforce nearing retirement, limited nursing program capacity due to faculty shortages and funding challenges, and lingering burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic that has pushed many out of the profession.
“In California, the problem is even more pronounced,” said Gayol. “The larger the population, the larger the shortage. And California, being the largest state, is especially impacted.”
Locally, the numbers paint a clear picture. In the Coachella Valley, there are approximately 2,700 registered nurse positions across the region’s three major healthcare systems. According to Gayol’s research, about 276 of those positions are currently unfilled—a 10% deficit that puts pressure on an already strained workforce.
“Nurses are the first line of contact in healthcare,” Gayol emphasized. “They’re who you see most during treatment, and their role is critical to patient outcomes.”
He also highlighted the role of Samuel Merritt University in addressing the shortage. SMU offers a full continuum of nursing education—from entry-level licensure programs to master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing practice. The goal is to train and retain the next generation of nurses, especially in underserved areas like the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley.
As the country honors nurses this week, experts warn that gratitude alone won’t solve the workforce crisis. Systemic investment in education, retention, and support is critical if communities are to avoid further gaps in care.
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By: Fred Roggin
May 7, 2025
