Nurse educators are key to growing California’s nursing workforce
May 11, 2026 •
Philip Mellijor (left), clinical instructor Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, demonstrates techniques for nursing students. (Credit: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis)
The future of California’s nursing workforce depends not only on training more nurses, but on preparing the educators who teach them.
By bridging classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience, nurse educators equip future nurses with the clinical skills and the core elements of patient care – such as communication, compassion and trust – that they’ll need to provide high-quality care to communities.
In celebration of Nurses’ Month, UC Health highlights four UC-trained nurse educators who are delivering patient care and serving as clinical instructors and faculty across California’s public higher education systems. From Sacramento to Stanislaus, Los Angeles to Irvine, these educators reflect the cycle of nursing education as they help prepare the next generation of nurses to meet community health needs.
Meet the nurses leading the way
Tags: nurse education, nursing, UC Health
