As other parts of the country grapple with the worst recession in generations, the Abilene economy has remained resilient. From plastic food container manufacturing to wind turbine tower development, expansions in a number of areas have bolstered local job creation.

The health care sector is no exception. Three of the top eight employers in Abilene are health care related, offering good job opportunities in this vital and growing field. In fact, there are so many opportunities in nursing, the supply can't keep up with the demand.

Today, some 22,000 registered nursing jobs sit unfilled statewide, including hundreds locally. The problem has become so severe, local health care organizations are recruiting nurses from outside Abilene. And while our nursing schools and Holland Medical High School are doing their part to help, we need additional resources to reverse this alarming trend.

Put simply, the supply and demand gap is widening -- and so has the potential to compromise access to care for every one of us.

Nursing careers offer good-paying, stable jobs that are indispensable, no matter the economic circumstances at the time. So, why do we lack qualified nurses to fill these jobs? The problem is not a lack of interest; it's a lack of nursing education funding.

In 2008, about 8,000 qualified applicants were turned away from Texas nursing schools because of the shortage of nursing faculty. For example, the enrollment capacity of nursing programs at Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing, a cooperative effort involving Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Christian University and McMurry University, along with Cisco Junior College and Texas State Technical College, are all undermined by the lack of faculty -- which is the direct result of a lack of funds.

The Legislature has invested in nursing education in recent years, and that support has made a difference. However, more must be done to ensure that we keep pace with the ever-increasing demand.

That's why Hendrick Health System and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce have joined the Texas Nursing Workforce Shortage Coalition, a diverse partnership of health care organizations, business groups and nursing education leaders; together we are urging the Legislature to invest an additional $60 million to double the number of registered nursing graduates by 2013. The additional $60 million in funding would enable schools to:

n Increase graduates. Nursing schools cite the lack of faculty as the biggest barrier to enrolling more students.

n Improve efficiency. State dollars should be used to create incentives for nursing schools to admit and graduate more registered nursing students within a reasonable time.

n Assist nursing students. Financial aid and other incentives should be available to nursing students to encourage enrollment and graduation.

Our local accredited nursing programs would all benefit from this investment, giving them the funding needed to boost enrollment and ultimately increase the number of nursing graduates. For example, the proposed funds could help the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing program graduate an additional 58 nurses over the next two years.

With demand for nurses increasing as the population grows and ages, the situation will only worsen if not confronted now. That is why we urge state lawmakers now meeting in Austin to direct needed state funding to nursing education so that we can increase the supply of nurses. By taking these steps, the Legislature will make far-reaching contributions to the future health and well-being of our region and our state.

Tim Lancaster, FACHE, is president and CEO of Hendrick Health System.