Augusta, GA -- According to government projections, by 2020, we'll be a million nurses short, and by 2012, Georgia will need another 20,000 nurses...but at the current rate we'll only produce half that number.

Dr. Lucy Marion, Dean, MCG School of Nursing: "Either we step up and graduate more people, or our healthcare system will not survive, as we know it."

And here's the twist: it's not that we need to get more nursing students, we need more people to teach them.

Dr.Marion: "Almost all of us have more applicants than we can manage. So, our job here at MCG is to start preparing more faculty."

The Dean of the School of Nursing at MCG says they've created the Doctorate of Nursing Practice, in addition to the PhD program, to get more teachers in the classrooms.

Dr.Marion: "Higher degrees, graduate degrees for nurses who can go on and be faculty members, not only here, but throughout the state."

And, in a medical community like Augusta, the various programs have to work together.

Marilyn Bowcutt, Vice President, Patient Care, University Hospital: "I think we are ahead of the game compared to many different communities across the country in that we've collaborated and we're making inroads. Aiken Tech opened thier School of Nursing and that's producing an extra 80 nurses within the community. Just recently, Augusta Tech was also approved for a nursing program."

Other factors contribute to the looming crisis, including the influx of retirees, the aging baby boomers, and longer lifespans.

Bowcutt: "I work collaboratively with staff nurses, everyday, to define their influence and implement strategies that will make it a better environment for the nurse."

One way is with technology...like a computer on wheels, to augment delivery of medications.

Bowcutt: "It actually supports the nurse and the delivery of the medication, making sure that the '5 rights' are delivered."

Jennie Montgomery, reporting: "If I were a patient, Jeremy would roll the computer right over to me and he would scan the medication, and scan my armband, to make sure I was who the computer said I was, before he'd give me the medicine."

It's one more way to help the nurse focus on what they need to do, which is direct care for the patient.

Karen Federman, RN: "There are some times, in critical care especially, when patients require 2 nurses and that level of care can change at any time."

Nurse managers assess the needs in each department at least every 8 hours. Thanks to a float pool of some 100 nurses, University Hospital can fill in the gaps as needed.

Federman: "When they come into the float pool, they sign a contract in the area they'll work in, and their salaries are based on that."

Tonya Conner loves being a nurse...but says burnout happens and new students are essential.

Tonya Conner, RN: "Sometimes nurses do get burned out easily and say, 'I want to find somthing totally different,' but we see a lot of student nurses come in who are excited about the nursing field and we definitely encourage them to come on into it, 'cause it's a great profession."

One way students learn is through the interdisciplinary simulation lab at MCG. Seniors, responding to a mock Code, say it's extrememly helpful.

Whitney Bryant, MCG Nursing student: "Especially when we were juniors and we were learning he skills that nurses have. It was very helpful to come in here and actually practice skills before we'd go and try them on real people."

The effort to work together to grow and place nurses, on both sides of the river, has been cited as a pilot program in Georgia...to regionalize clinical placements.

Dr.Marion: "We'll be working together to make sure that all of our students have the opportunity to learn in the various sectors in these learning environments."

Bowcutt: "In most cases, nurses really want to do that 'cause they're doing it for the care. They want to give excellent care...they're there at the time of birth and death...they're there at the most meaningful times in a patient's life."

Augusta State has recently been approved for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree...the BSN program will more than double the number of nursing graduates annually. USC-Aiken also offers the BSN degree...and both Augusta and Aiken Technical Colleges have Associate's Degree in Nursing programs.

Be sure to tune in Wednesday night at 6, as we show you the simulation lab at MCG's School of Nursing...on Thursday, we'll cover the economic impact of nursing...and then Friday, we'll show you the tremendous care given by oncology nurses.