Texas, like other states, is experiencing a growing nurse faculty shortage as more educators reach retirement age. A report by Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies (TCNWS, 2007) on nursing education demographics and trends stated that the loss of ... experienced faculty members would cripple educational system if there are not enough nurse educators to replace faculty as they (p. 21). An earlier study (TCNWS, 2005) identified two trends as contributing to nursing shortage: increasing average age of nurse faculty and decreasing percentage of faculty under age of 40. At onset of project discussed in this article, largest nursing program in state had 50 percent of nurse faculty 60 years of age and older; 70 percent were eligible to retire within five years, and 13 full-time faculty were eligible to retire immediately. Also affecting ability to produce adequate numbers of nurse graduates is lack of clinical space for training. Hospitals and agencies are inundated with requests to instruct students in all areas of health professions. Despite intense work to resolve these problems, it has been difficult to realize additional enrollments of nursing students. SOLUTIONS TO THE IMPENDING CRISIS In 2001, San Antonio city officials convened a health care summit that brought to light impending crisis of a nursing shortage in city. As a result, Methodist Healthcare Ministries Foundation initiated financial support to encourage growth of nursing programs in city. Several schools of nursing were fortunate to be recipients of funds, and at least one has been able to maintain increased enrollments. In 2005, a significant portion of Alamo College bond issue was dedicated to respond to community's request to increase nursing student enrollment and provide quality education. More than $60 million in local tax funds were allocated to build nursing, teaching, and learning complexes with state-of-the-art simulation labs. These were completed in 2009 academic year. In 2008, foundation once again sought ways to support further growth of nursing programs. A proposal was submitted with intent to increase enrollments and create an innovative paradigm to address various aspects of nursing shortage. A three-year award, totaling $4.5 million, was received. The acquisition of financial support for project added further value to funds allocated for building of state-of-the art facilities. AN INNOVATIVE PARADIGM FOR NURSING EDUCATION The goals of increasing qualified nurse faculty, developing new instructional experiences, increasing numbers of nursing students enrolled, and ultimately increasing numbers of qualified nurses in community were all targeted in this three-year project. The first strategy provides opportunities for nurses with baccalaureate degrees to serve as clinical teaching assistants (CTAs) in simulation lab while pursuing a master's of science in nursing degree. In this way, registered nurses begin to experience a nursing education career. The second strategy includes use of simulation lab as an actual clinical experience, permitting increased enrollments without adding to need for clinical space. A third strategy introduces concept of Combination Inpatient and Simulation Clinical Experience, in which best practices are investigated, developed, and utilized. In an effort to be responsive to multiple learning styles of students, this experience consists of a blend of traditional clinical experiences in hospital setting and student-centered experiences in simulation clinical lab. Groups of 15 students are assigned to teams with one master's-prepared faculty member and one CTA. Ten students rotate through traditional inpatient clinical experience with faculty member, while five are involved in simulation clinical experience with CTA. …