San Diego State University: SDSU Imperial Valley Launches New, Accelerated Pre-Licensure BSN Program
San Diego State University Imperial Valley is helping combat the critical nursing shortage in the region through the creation of a new, accelerated pre-licensure bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program.
The program was officially approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing on May 18.
The SDSU Imperial Valley BSN program provides freshman entry students the opportunity to complete their BSN in three years and transfer eligible students in two years.
The direct entry BSN program builds upon the continued partnership with Imperial Valley College to provide opportunities for students in Imperial Valley to pursue a career in the high-demand healthcare industry. The pre-licensure BSN program, which also builds upon the university’s work with the Imperial Valley Regional Occupation Program, will create a larger pool of baccalaureate prepared nurses to serve the Imperial Valley community – right in their home community.
Prospective students can submit an application for the inaugural program now through June 3 for the fall 2022 semester. First-year and transfer students who qualify for California State University admission and meet program-specific prerequisites are eligible for admission.
“This vital program will also provide opportunities for high school freshmen to enter directly as a nursing major and alleviate the bottleneck of transfer students seeking nursing careers,” said Karen Macauley, director of SDSU’s School of Nursing and a professor within the College of Health and Human Services.
“It is exciting to have multiple pathways locally that can offer a variety of entry points for compassionate individuals who desire to become a nurse and serve in their own community,” said Helina Hoyt, the nursing program coordinator at SDSU Imperial Valley.
SDSU Imperial Valley already offers a Registered Nurse (RN) to BSN program and a separate masters of science in nursing leadership in health care systems program. The RN to BSN program is funded in part through a $480,000 Song Brown award from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, spread out over a two-year period. The award will provide student stipends, simulation equipment and academic mentoring to RN to BSN nursing students who are cross enrolled in both SDSU Imperial Valley and Imperial Valley College nursing programs.
The accelerated program announcement follows four years of increased course offerings and expanded student support services at SDSU Imperial Valley. Earlier this month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he has included $80 million in new funding for a SDSU Imperial Valley science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) facility that will drastically expand educational, research, and economic development opportunities in Imperial County.