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 California
State University, Fresno is one of 18 nursing programs in the state and
one of two in the San Joaquin Valley to receive state funding that would
increase the healthcare workforce by expanding registered nurse
education programs.
Fresno State received a two-year $364,947 award from the $2.7 million
announced Feb. 15 by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and
Development’s Song-Brown Program. Fresno State will use the award to
train 20 additional students in the undergraduate nursing program and to
increase the number of nursing faculty in the Valley.
“The funds will facilitate access to our Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse
Educator master's program via Web-based delivery,” said Dr. Michael
Russler, chair of the Nursing Department at Fresno State. It will
ultimately prepare the next generation of faculty for all nursing
programs in the San Joaquin Valley.”
Fresno State graduates more than110 registered nurses each year, 85
percent of whom stay in the Valley and help address the growing health
needs of communities.
Funding for the nursing faculty component will build upon an existing
nurse education training program that helps to alleviate the region and
state’s nursing shortage crisis by preparing students to become nurse
educators. In 2006, a partnership of four nursing programs in the Valley
began working collaboratively to improve and increase the number of
nursing faculty. This partnership has now expanded to include all 10
nursing programs in the region. Each program nominates three students
for every nurse education training course that is offered.
Song-Brown funding will complement the existing program by helping to
support extended education fees for a three-unit course that will be
offered to 80 students nominated by the Valley nursing programs. The
funding will also support the development of a new course on teaching
with technology, which will be added to Fresno State’s Clinical Nurse
Specialist/ Nurse Educator post baccalaureate program, transitioning it
to a 12-unit online Nurse Educator Certificate Program. The funding will
enable faculty to teach the four courses online.
“Since the nurse education training program began, 67 students have
completed the 2-unit course and 60 of them are working as nursing
faculty members,” explained Dr. Mary Barakzai, director of the Central
California Center for Excellence in Nursing at Fresno State.
Recent funding also will support the development of a network of current
nursing faculty to serve as master teacher mentors throughout the Valley
for students in the Nurse Educator Certificate Program.
The Central California Center for Excellence in Nursing addresses the
region’s nursing shortage through research, policy, promotion of
advanced nursing education and practice, and collaboration with regional
nursing leadership and interests.
“With the financial support from agencies such as the Office of
Statewide Health Planning and Development, the center is able to
collaboratively provide long-term solutions and support for the region's
efforts in addressing the growing shortage of nurses,” said Barakzai.
For more information, contact Brandie Campbell at: 559.278.7940 or
559.994.3189.
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