The NAU College of Nursing is addressing a projected worsening nursing shortage in Arizona.

An aging population of nurses is one reason as to why the shortage has occurred. Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic depleted the nursing pool.

Janina Johnson serves as the dean for the college.

"That is another reason — is the pandemic. And I think it, you know, affected all professions but with nursing, we did see some of the nurses that were going to retire go into an earlier retirement," she said.

To solve the issue, the college is seeking to expand its nursing program for Native American students and train mental health nurses.