College of the Desert celebrates 60 years of training nurses as Coachella Valley faces healthcare staffing needs

PALM DESERT, CA (KESQ) - As the Coachella Valley continues to grow, so does the demand for qualified healthcare professionals.

This week, College of the Desert is celebrating the next generation of local nurses while marking a major milestone for one of its longstanding healthcare programs.

The college will hold a pinning ceremony Friday to celebrate graduates and recognize the 60th anniversary of its Vocational Nursing Program, which has spent six decades preparing students for careers in healthcare and helping meet the needs of the local community.

The celebration comes as healthcare systems across the region continue to face challenges recruiting and retaining nurses.

Local hospitals and health systems have hundreds of registered nurse positions to fill, with staffing pressures driven by several factors, including an aging workforce, retirements, employee burnout and the high cost of living in the Coachella Valley.

College of the Desert says its nursing programs are helping create a pipeline of healthcare professionals who can go on to work in communities across the region.

“We're seeing the labor market data continues to reflect there is an ongoing need for nursing, and COD continues to be an affordable program hoping to help that pipeline for healthcare in the Coachella Valley,” said Michelle French, acting director of Nursing and Allied Health at College of the Desert.

This year, College of the Desert graduated a record 91 registered nurses, more than doubling the size of previous graduating classes.

The increase comes as demand for nurses remains strong throughout the region.

For students looking to enter the healthcare field, COD's nursing programs provide an opportunity to receive training close to home while preparing for careers in a field with continued demand.

Friday's pinning ceremony will recognize the latest group of nursing graduates while also celebrating 60 years of the college's Vocational Nursing Program.

College of the Desert says the program's long history reflects its ongoing role in helping address the Coachella Valley's healthcare workforce needs.