SACRAMENTO (AP) _ A new study finds that more Californians are becoming nurses, thanks to a government initiative to address the state’s nursing shortage.

The report released Friday by the state Labor and Workforce Development Agency found that California nursing programs are projected to graduate nearly 10,400 registered nurses this year. That’s a 68 percent increase from the 2003-04 academic year.

The study attributes the increase to the California Nurse Education Initiative, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched in April 2005 to expand the number of nursing programs.

The state’s community colleges account for about 70 percent of registered nurse graduates.

But experts warn that it’s too early to say the state’s nursing shortage is over.

___

Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.