I started my career in a skilled nursing facility twenty years ago as a certified nursing assistant. Over time, I worked in admissions, earned my nursing license, became a nurse at the same facility my grandmother was a patient, and eventually advanced into my role as case manager. Through every step of that journey, one thing remained clear: skilled nursing facilities are lifelines for patients and families.
As a case manager at Watsonville Post Acute and Nursing Center, one of more than 1,000 skilled nursing facilities statewide, we care for people recovering from strokes and surgeries, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Many have nowhere else to turn for the round-the-clock medical care they need, and nearly all rely on Medi-Cal or Medicare.
Our team of nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists works together to develop personalized care plans for each patient’s unique needs.
And the care we provide goes beyond round-the-clock medical care. We celebrate holidays, and milestones with our patients, and support their families during moments of uncertainty. Over time, our patients become like family.
But delivering this high level of care is only possible with adequate funding—and today, California is failing skilled nursing patients and the workforce that cares for them.
In July 2025, the state budget cut the Workforce Quality Incentive Program (WQIP), eliminating $300 million in state and federal funding for skilled nursing facilities. These cuts eliminated critical resources that support recruiting staff, workforce training, and facility improvements.
As a nurse, upcoming state budget decisions are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they have consequences for my patients and the workforce that cares for them. Without adequate funding, skilled nursing facilities across the state risk staffing shortages, reduced patient services, and even closure. That means fewer care options when patients and families need them most, and longer, more expensive hospital stays.
As California faces a growing aging population, restoring WQIP in the 2026-27 state budget is not optional—it is essential.
Now, more than ever, Gov. Newsom and lawmakers must restore WQIP to ensure our most vulnerable Californians continue to have access to the critical skilled nursing care they need—when they need it most.
Nicole Peterson
LVN, Case Manager
Watsonville Post Acute and Nursing Center