S.B. 1015: Key Reform for California Nursing Students' Clinical Access

California's Senate Bill 1015: A New Chapter for Nursing Students

The California Nurses Association (CNA) has expressed strong support for Senate Bill 1015, recently signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, highlighting its significance for nursing students' clinical education placements. This legislation, introduced by Senator Dave Cortese with CNA's sponsorship, is designed to provide critical training opportunities for future nurses, specifically those enrolled in public institutions such as community colleges and state universities.

CNA President Michelle Gutierrez Vo, RN, emphasized, “This commonsense reform will increase transparency around and equitable access to clinical education placements for nursing students across the state.” The law aims to address California's nursing workforce needs by ensuring hospitals and healthcare facilities can maintain adequate staffing levels.

Clinical placements are a fundamental aspect of nursing education. According to California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) data, students from 92 out of 152 nursing programs in the state were denied these crucial placements in 2021 and 2022. This issue was frequently cited by nursing schools as a primary barrier to increasing student enrollment, particularly impacting public nursing education programs.

The continuation of these trends threatened to create disparities for students from community colleges and public schools. These institutions are essential for a diverse nursing workforce and offer an affordable entry into the profession, aligning with the demographic fabric of California.

Senate Bill 1015 introduces mandated transparency in clinical placements and sets the groundwork for developing equitable standards. The BRN will now be responsible for collecting and analyzing data on how approved programs manage placements, with findings reported to the state legislature each year. Additionally, the BRN’s Nursing Education and Workforce Advisory Committee is tasked with proposing standards to ensure equitable access to these critical educational opportunities.


California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and nearly 225,000 RNs nationwide.

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