November 10, 2005
By Valerie Orleans

Since 1975, Cal State Fullerton has provided advanced education to thousands of registered nurses. But with the development of a proposed program, the university will, for the first time, be able to add new nurses to the workforce.

Kaiser Permanente recently presented a $300,000 check to the Department of Nursing supporting a plan for a post-baccalaureate, pre-licensure program for students who wish to become nurses while pursuing a master’s degree in the field. The initial focus will be directed toward students with a bachelor’s degree in another field.

“This is different than the programs we currently offer in that these students, who will have a bachelor’s degree, are not RNs [registered nurses],” said Paula Herberg, chair and associate professor of nursing. “These are students who want to become RNs and pursue a master’s degree at the same time.”

Currently, all students opting for bachelor’s or master’s degrees in nursing from Cal State Fullerton already possess RN licensure.

Eventually, the program will be expanded to allow students without any previous degrees to study for the RN licensure concurrently with a bachelor’s degree.

The need for more nurses, especially those with advanced degrees, is pressing, said Herberg. As the population ages, this need will continue to grow, she said, noting that according to the California Employment Development Department, the state will need an additional 109,600 registered nurses to meet demands for nursing care and to replace nurses close to retirement. Local Orange County hospitals have expressed a need for more nurses educated to the bachelor’s level or higher to handle the complex needs of today’s patients, Herberg added.

As a first step, the university hopes to develop an accelerated program for post-baccalaureate students that would take 18 to 24 months to complete RN licensure requirements and an additional year to complete the master’s degree.

The Kaiser Permanente funding will assist Cal State Fullerton to develop such a program, said Herberg. A planning director/faculty team will meet to develop policies and procedures, as well as the total curriculum package, including the identification of clinical placement sites for students to receive hands-on practical experiences.

As part of the planning, the university, with the support of Kaiser Permanente, will develop a “skills laboratory,” that is, a facility that replicates a hospital environment, she noted. In this skills laboratory, students can practice many of the skills and techniques they will need as nurses.

“We are grateful for Kaiser Permanente’s support,” said Roberta Rikli, dean of the College of Health and Human Development. “Our state is experiencing a severe nursing shortage. Most schools can’t keep up with the demand.

Currently, about 40 percent of those applying to California’s nursing schools are turned away because schools are filled to capacity. Being able to educate more students in a shorter period of time provides benefits to everyone: students, hospitals and the university. Kaiser Permanente’s willingness to help us develop a much-needed program is greatly appreciated.”

“We realize that nurses and the quality of care they provide make a great difference in the health care received by patients,” said Julie Miller-Phipps, CEO, Kaiser Permanente, Orange County. “This gift represents a long-term partnership we hope to develop with Cal State Fullerton’s Nursing Department.”

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