When one needs health care, oftentimes the person in need doesn’t check the diplomas on the wall to assess one’s training. We generally know that hospitals and other health care providers try to provide the absolute best care within their ability. Therefore it might seem strange that the California State University system is opposed to Assembly Bill 2104, a bill which would allow community colleges to develop baccalaureate of science in nursing (BSN) degrees.
Why? Because competing programs are not an efficient or effective way to solve California’s nursing shortage. Instead, education needs to create more partnerships like the ones we have built in our community. The College of the Redwoods is outstanding at producing nurses that remain locally. Its associate of science in registered nursing (ADN) degree program provides the foundation for providing essential professional nursing care at the bedside. Throughout the 2-year program, ADN students gain the knowledge, technical skills and critical thinking needed to provide basic care and become much-needed licensed RNs.
Through intentional design and collaboration, Cal Poly Humboldt’s bachelor of nursing program curriculum cultivates critical thinking and leadership skills, a culture of teamwork and interdisciplinary care, and addresses the complex needs of rural communities. An immersive community and public health experience prepares students for nursing roles beyond the bedside and for Public Health Nursing (PHN) certification.
This semester, Cal Poly Humboldt is excited to welcome 45 students to the BSN program, including a unique cohort of 12 dually enrolled students from the College of the Redwoods. Through concurrent enrollment, CR nursing students will begin taking classes in their ADN program while simultaneously taking classes in Cal Poly Humboldt’s BSN program. Upon graduating from CR with their ADN, they will have only two semesters left to complete their BSN.
The program, which focuses on training nurses that want to work in rural communities, is growing every year. It was a community-wide effort to build this partnership thanks to generous donations from Providence-St. Joseph Hospital, Humboldt Area Foundation and Sutter Coast Hospital.
Unfortunately, competing programs between community colleges and universities will not lead to more nurses without addressing other important factors such as compensation and training of nursing faculty and supporting clinical placements in communities which are critical to providing valuable hands-on experience and contribute significantly to the development of competent and compassionate nursing professionals.
Thanks to the support of Senate Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods are creating a shared teaching space that will allow us to double the number of nurses taught in the region each year and streamline pathways for healthcare professionals to pursue degrees in higher education, such as BSN and beyond
The state-of-the-art innovation center will replicate pre-hospital care, intra-hospital care, and home care experiences. The facility will have space for classrooms and a conference site for Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods.
Our strong partnerships will allow us to offer even more health care education so we can “grow our own” health care workforce. In addition to nursing education, we envision using this space to train allied health professionals such as psychiatric technicians, scrub technicians, respiratory therapy, radiology technicians, and more.
Investing resources in partnering to grow more health care education opportunities regionally and not competitive programs is a winning strategy.
Be well!
Kim Perris is the director of nursing and Connie Stewart is the executive director of initiatives at Cal Poly Humboldt.