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Monday, June 23, 2008
Petree C (LA Convention Center)
Nationwide there is a severe nursing shortage estimated only to become worse over the next 20 years as the aging Baby Boomer nurses retire and Boomer patients need more healthcare services. Aging Boomers account for roughly one fourth of the US population. California has the second lowest ratio of registered nurses to population of any state in the country and the average age of RNs in California is one year older the national average of 47 years. It is estimated that 47% of RNs in California are 51 years or older. Adding to the crisis of the aging RN population is the fact that enrollment in nursing schools is not meeting current demand for registered nurses. Schools often struggle with a shortage of qualified faculty, insufficient funding for faculty salaries, inadequate classroom space and not enough clinical sites for training, leaving many schools to maintain long waiting lists of capable students.
Historically, the local university admitted 35 students, twice per year to the BSN program. To increase capacity, a partnership was formed between the university and a local medical center. Using grant funds from the State of California and private sources, a satellite campus was established at the medical center and a trimester program was developed to allow completion of nursing courses in two years instead of the traditional three years. This partnership enabled an additional 36 students to be admitted to the BSN program three times per year, resulting in a net increase of 108 baccalaureate prepared nurses annually. Classrooms, clinical rotations, clinical instructors and a 9 –bed skill/simulation lab are provided by the medical center.
The hospital contracts with students to provide financial support for educational expenses in exchange for an agreement to work at the medical center for two years following graduation. The first class graduated in December 2005 and resulted in an additional 31 nurses hired to the medical center. With nearly all of the clinical rotations taking place in the medical center, the students become acclimated to the culture and routines of the facility and the staff has an opportunity to get to know the students making the transition to employment as a Registered Nurse smooth for both the new graduate and the receiving nursing units.
Historically, the local university admitted 35 students, twice per year to the BSN program. To increase capacity, a partnership was formed between the university and a local medical center. Using grant funds from the State of California and private sources, a satellite campus was established at the medical center and a trimester program was developed to allow completion of nursing courses in two years instead of the traditional three years. This partnership enabled an additional 36 students to be admitted to the BSN program three times per year, resulting in a net increase of 108 baccalaureate prepared nurses annually. Classrooms, clinical rotations, clinical instructors and a 9 –bed skill/simulation lab are provided by the medical center.
The hospital contracts with students to provide financial support for educational expenses in exchange for an agreement to work at the medical center for two years following graduation. The first class graduated in December 2005 and resulted in an additional 31 nurses hired to the medical center. With nearly all of the clinical rotations taking place in the medical center, the students become acclimated to the culture and routines of the facility and the staff has an opportunity to get to know the students making the transition to employment as a Registered Nurse smooth for both the new graduate and the receiving nursing units.
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