RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - There is still a tremendous need for qualified nurses in Virginia.

12 On Your Side has been reporting on a shortage since the pandemic, and while things are improving, the numbers are not where they need to be.

Nearly two months ago, $4.5 million was given to the Earn to Learn program to address workforce shortages.

Governor Glenn Youngkin says he plans to give nursing schools the support they need throughout his last year in office.

“We have preceptorships so that nurses can get the clinical experience that they need in order to get their next level of degree,” Gov. Youngkin said. ”On top of that, we’re providing support for LPNs who want to become registered nurses to work and earn while they learn.”

The nursing program allows people to work and earn a paycheck while on an accelerated path to becoming professional nurses.

However, there is still a shortage of nurses.

“It has reduced relative to where it was during the peak of the pandemic. That’s good news, but it doesn’t mean that we have solved the problem. We have to continue to ensure that we are driving a good flow of nursing students who become nurses through our universities,” Gov. Youngkin said.

VCU’s nursing interim dean, Dr. Patricia Kinser, says the school currently has 300 nurse practitioner students and more than 700 nursing students.

“Almost 100% of our students, when they graduate from our program, pass their board certification on the first time around, which is quite rare,” VCU School of Nursing Interim Dean Dr. Patricia Kinser said.

Dr. Kinser says that due to the shortage issues, VCU is increasing its nursing school capacity.

“We have made a commitment next year to actually double our traditional undergraduate enrollment,” Dr. Kinsers said. ”So we have recognized that we have an imperative to address this short shortage that we’re experiencing across the Commonwealth and, for that matter, across the nation.”

The enrollment increase at VCU School of Nursing is expected to start next fall.