FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2008

Contact: Lanny Larson

559.278.4620 or 559.278.2795

Photo caption: Nursing Department Chairman Dr. Michael Russler talks to students in new nursing program for graduate students.

Click image for high res version

Instruction is under way for 60 newly admitted graduate students participating in the new entry level master of science in nursing program at California State University, Fresno.
 
The 36-month graduate program, called ELM, was developed by the Department of Nursing at Fresno State in response to the critical shortage of registered nurses throughout Central California. It allows anyone with a bachelor’s degree in any field who also has completed nursing prerequisites to become a registered nurse.
 
After 18 months of study, students will take the state licensure exam and will be eligible to work as registered nurses in area hospitals, while completing requirements for the master’s degree as clinical nurse specialist/nurse educator. Graduation from the ELM program will be in
May 2009.
 
The California State University Chancellor’s Office is funding this one-time offering, designed by Fresno State to provide participants with the tools necessary to fill leadership positions in nursing and to become nursing faculty for institutions throughout the San Joaquin Valley. 
 
“This unique program will run parallel to the established baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs and will add significantly to the more than 180 nurses that Fresno State prepares each year,” explained Dr. Mary Barakzai, graduate coordinator and associate professor for the department. 
 
“The health care community has been very supportive of this innovative program and we are excited about the potential to create nursing faculty for the future,” added Dr. Mike Russler,  chair of the Nursing Department.
 
For more information about the ELM nursing program, contact Brandie Campbell at 559.278.7940 or visit: www.csufresno.edu/nursing .