The California Board Of Registered Nursing Approves Affiliations For New Nursing Program

Acknowledging the need for more
nurses nationwide, The California Board of Registered Nursing has approved
a new affiliation among Southwestern College, San Diego State University
and The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) College of
Nursing in order to provide clinical experiences in San Diego County for
students enrolled in the OUHSC Online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in
Nursing (BSN) program. The new Accelerated Second Degree BSN Program is
designed to help ease the nursing shortage by providing students with
greater program access, flexibility and by graduating new nurses.



This innovative program blends tradition and technology, offering
leading-edge online education and traditional on-site clinical education.
Individuals in San Diego who currently have a bachelor's degree in a
non-nursing major may qualify to earn a BSN from the University of Oklahoma
College of Nursing (OU) in just 14 months. The theory portion of the
program is taught completely online by the distinguished faculty of OU, and
the clinical education component is taught exclusively at Sharp HealthCare
facilities by faculty appointed there.



The nationwide nursing shortage is reaching alarming scope with
approximately 1,000,000 unfilled nursing positions projected by 2020(1).
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN),
nursing schools must increase the number of graduates by 90 percent in
order to combat the nursing shortage, yet in 2005 nursing schools denied
over 41,000 applicants due to lack of capacity and lack of faculty.
Recognizing that the number of applicants far exceeds the number of
available slots in California(2), this newly approved Accelerated Second
Degree BSN degree program reduces faculty and capacity constraints by
connecting nursing students in California with award-winning faculty in
Oklahoma and potentially other states, thus opening the door to more
students.



The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing is known for academic
excellence and was named a 2006 Center of Excellence in Nursing
Education(TM) by the National League for Nursing.



The OU College of Nursing is committed to tackling the nursing shortage
through innovative learning options, notes Dean Carole Kenner. "Educational
excellence is our mission. We are creating the next generation of
healthcare leaders, and the country needs them sooner rather than later. We
are thrilled to be able to work with Sharp to bring more caring, committed
individuals into the nursing profession."



Consistently ranked as the number one integrated health care system in
Southern California by Modern Healthcare, the award-winning Sharp system
has generously opened its doors to providing this educational opportunity
to the community.



According to Jennifer Jacoby, Chief Nursing Officer, Sharp Memorial
Hospital, "Sharp is proud to be associated with the prestigious University
of Oklahoma College of Nursing. Their leadership combined with appointed
expert, adjunct clinical faculty from the San Diego area will provide
students with a first-rate educational experience."



The curriculum is comprehensive, encompassing more than 600 hours of
online course work and almost 900 hours of hands-on clinical training at
Sharp facilities in San Diego. Theory courses taught by the University of
Oklahoma College of Nursing faculty via interactive classes online will
include threaded discussions, real-time Web casts, regular proctored
examinations, projects and assignments. Students will have the flexibility
of taking the online courses during day or evening hours. Hands-on clinical
training will be taught by adjunct University of Oklahoma College of
Nursing Program faculty assigned to work directly with students at several
of Sharp HealthCare facilities.



Graduates of the program will earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
degree through a 14-month curriculum, provided they already hold a
bachelor's degree in another field. According to AACN, hospitals prefer
nurses with a bachelor's degree because facilities with more educated
nurses experience lower patient mortality rates, fewer medical errors and
increased job satisfaction.



Interest in the program has been high; OU has already received numerous
inquiries via Sharp HealthCare personnel. The first class is
full and set to begin in August. Applications are due October 1, 2007, for
classes that begin January 2008.



For more information about The University of Oklahoma College of
Nursing Program visit ounursing.


References



(1) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA, April 2006.



(2) "Ensuring an Adequate Health Workforce: Improving State Nursing
Programs" by Elizabeth Hill, Legislative Analyst; May 2007.


The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing Program

ounursing

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