Community colleges seek to add BSN degree

Colorado suffers from an acute case of a nursing deficiency, and its community colleges are hoping the state Legislature provides a cure.

Last year saw 21,000 job listings for registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree, and 80 percent of those were for entry-level positions, said Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College system, which includes the Front Range Community College campuses in Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont and Brighton.

At least 500 positions requiring a bachelor of science in nursing degree go unfilled each year in Colorado, which will result in a cumulative shortage of…