Pandemic Puts Graduation at Risk for Many California Nursing Students

Nursing student Ryane Panasewicz (R), poses with her colleagues at the Anaheim Global Medical Center in Anaheim, Calif. Panasewicz and other nursing students may not graduate as planned this year due to a disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic of clinical hours required. Courtesy of Ryane Panasewicz

The career path of an estimated 10,000 nursing students in California has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and for students like Ryane Panasewicz, 27, no answers or solutions have been offered.

“We’ve just been on standby … waiting to hear what’s going to happen,” she told The Epoch Times. “It’s like drawing the short stick … going to nursing school right now, when COVID-19 comes out.”