Tri-City Healthcare District Joins Nurse Now Program
To eliminate a nursing shortage in the region, the Tri-City Healthcare District's board of directors voted unanimously last week to join San Diego State University's Nurses Now training program, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Under the program, which will cost the district $210,000 over three years, nursing students will receive part of their training at Tri-City Medical Center. District officials hope that students training at the hospital will then "choose to work" at the facility after graduation. Beginning in the spring of 2002, 10 students will train at the hospital and another 10 will follow the next semester. Dr. Arthur Gonzales, the district's CEO, said, "We think it will be a fine return on our investment. Even if we get just one nurse a year out of the program, it will be worth it." In addition to agreeing to spend $210,000 on the training program, the board of directors indicated that they want to spend an "equal amount" on tuition reimbursement and scholarships for nurses working at the hospital. Meanwhile, North County's other large hospital district, Palomar Pomerado Health System, voted against joining the SDSU program because officials said they did not think enough students would choose to work in North County (Berhman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2/23).
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