New Nurse Training Programs Funded
Cuesta College has received $157,000 to launch a new program to train 30 licensed vocational nurses annually at its North County campus, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reports.
The program, funded by Compass Health, is intended to alleviate a nursing shortage in the region. According to Mary Parker, Cuesta's director of Nursing and Allied Health, San Luis Obispo County "will need about 200 LVNs over the next three to five years" (Connell, San Luis Obispo Tribune, 6/20).
In related news, a coalition of colleges and a university has received $15,000 to train registered nurses to become nursing instructors, the Fresno Bee reports.
The program, funded by a grant from the California HealthCare Foundation, will be taught at California State University-Fresno. San Joaquin Valley College and Fresno City College also will participate in the program.
The grant will pay the cost of tuition, supplies and books for 25 nurses (Fresno Bee, 6/20).