Don't give up on the SDSU Accelerated Baccalaureate

U.S.A. California

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Specializes in Gerontological.

To everyone who was planning or hoping to go to the online SDSU nursing program for BS to BSN, don't give up yet.

Although I am just one person, I refuse to quit yet. I posted this on the previous thread, but I see that there are so many dispirited people out there, I wanted a proactive thread so they don't give up. Read on:

Hi all. I'm a potential faculty member for the SDSU Acc Bac program, and I have to tell you that the faculty and administration are as shocked as you all are. I have been working hard (for no pay) at developing one of the courses. Sorry the communication doesn't seem to have been very considerate of you, but the faculty at SDSU are constrained by the chain of command and Orbis is constrained by everyone at the local office now being off the payroll (and a possible pending lawsuit).

First off, CSU chancellor Charles Reed Executive | CSU is the person who made this extreme decision, and his rationale seems to have been that he did not approve it before work began. Since the procedures do not state that he has to approve it, but rather that he be "notified", it is unclear whether he actually has the power to stop the program. And considering all the reasons for HAVING this program, it seems unreasonable for him to block it.

OK. What can we do about it?

1. I am writing a letter to Maria Shriver, since she has taken on public health issues in the past. Maria Shriver, First Lady of California :: Home Page

2. I called the office of Marty Block, the California assembly Chair of the Higher Education Committee. (Is anybody reading this in the 78th assembly district, Lemon Grove?) Assemblymember Marty Block Representing the 78th Assembly District

3. I am going to write a letter to the editor of the San Diego Union Tribune and call or email local TV stations. Contact Us - SignOnSanDiego.com

4. I am going to contact my representatives in Sacramento. Find yours here: http://ca.lwv.org/lwvc/edfund/govtinfo/state.html

5. I am going to contact the California Nurses Association, which I have supported since I moved to California in 1986. Contact Us Index Page

6. I am issuing a "CALL TO ACTION". Agitate! Write letters (not to SDSU, we are all on the same side). email you state legislators! Find yours here: http://ca.lwv.org/lwvc/edfund/govtinfo/state.html. Be sure to let people know your personal stories, as those "make it real". Then come back to this site and let everyone else know what you have done. Show that you can be professional and proactive, don't blame SDSU for the CSU Cancellor's unexpected power grab.

Finally, I attach the document I have written describing the advantages I can think of to having the Acc Bac program in place. Feel free to add your own rationales, and use it when contacting people.

Appendix:

ADVANTAGES OF an ACCELERATED BACCALAUREATE NURSING PROGRAM at San Diego State University

1.There is a nursing shortage, and even more dire, there is a shortage of nursing programs and faculty. Some people point to the ability of California hospitals to recruit adequate staff, but hospitals themselves are claiming they cannot recruit adequate nurses to maintain patient care ratios. (And with the implementation of ratios in California, the "shortage" of nurses actually decreased as nurses moved here to work in a safer environment.) Also, nurses are needed in other areas than hospital care such as long-term care, home care, clinics, and hospice.

2.The population is aging, and more nurses will be needed to care for the problems encountered by the elderly at the precise time that many nurses themselves are retiring. Also nursing faculty are beginning to retire in larger numbers, further decreasing the ability to educate more nurses.

3.In addition to the aging of the population, there are now 30 million newly insured who will be expecting improved health care within the next few years, and that will create a burgeoning need for nurses at all levels.

4.The public/private partnership of SDSU and the online course development company Orbis Education, provides a plan that does not cost taxpayer money to educate nurses. It costs the students money, but the ability to complete the program in one year creates an economic incentive on behalf of these same students.

5.Many of the students applying for this program (and there are many more applicants than available places) have lost jobs in their former field with the recent economic downturn. This program will provide re-education that will enable these people to re-enter the work force. Additionally, as the economy improves the nursing shortage will grow as many nurses who have only recently returned to nursing will doubtless decide to leave it again.

6.The community colleges are apparently lobbying against this program, presumably because it will produce more BSN nurses who will out-compete the Associate Degree Nurses (ADN) from Community Colleges. But health care is becoming ever more complex, and the BSN will eventually become the entry-level standard for RNs, just as the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) will become the standard for advanced practice nurses. The community colleges, while excellent institutions, should not be able to block the development of higher education. And the "competition" for ADN vs. BSN should play out according to the level of skill needed, and not according to some artificial restriction on the supply of BSN nurses.

7.The Accelerated Baccalaureate program has been approved by SDSU faculty and administration, and by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Sharp HealthCare, recognizing the need for more well-trained nurses, has worked closely with the program to be able to commit to providing clinical sites.

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HI SUZYWOO,

On the other thread I think someone said there was the possibility that this program may be up for approval for a January cohort. Have you heard anything like this?

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Im curious to know what will happen in the future as well. Without the old thread I feel like I dont know what is going on with the cancelled program.

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Specializes in ED, Tele, L&D.

I think it is interesting and unfair to assert that local community colleges are lobbying against this program. I know first hand that community colleges in San Diego fully recognize the importance of their graduates continuing their education to at least complete their BSN, and encourage them to do so.

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Is anyone still interested in commuting from the IE to the SDSU campus for the traditional program? It looks as we are going to be attending class from about 7am to 1pm, 4 days a week, and probably an 8 hour clinical shift for the 5th day? I called the person taking our head count and she said the schedule could be different because they are creating new classes for us. As is, 7am works for me, miss all the traffic. Yes, I'm losing hours and hours of my life, but it's only 15 units a semester as opposed to what 20 or so with the accelerated program. The person I talked to also said they would create a summer session to shave of one semester. I really hope that's accurate. Maybe in time, they will create online lectures for us. I'm going to call back next week and inquire about it.

Before I can commit to taking a spot at SDSU, I would like to know how many people are interested in commuting from the IE off the 15. I remember 80sami was interested...have certain are you about attending? I'm leaning to SDSU 80% as of today. Anyone else interested, please post a reply. Hopefully we can get a car full of 4 students and switch off days driving.;)

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Elle71- I told SDSU I would be attending for sure. I would be interested in carpooling. I live off the 15/215 split in the IE. Where are you coming from?

I am worried about the 4 or 5 day commute to SDSU. I was thinking about talking to the advisor and see if there is anyway we can get our schedule down to 2 or 3 days a week on campus. She said they will be making us our own cohort. I know there are a few people that are working or commuting so maybe they can accomidate us within reason. I am happy with early morning classes because we can miss the traffic. I guess we will have to wait and see.

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80sami...I will call SDSU next week to see if they have any new info. She did say registration is the 3rd week of July, so by then we should have all the details by then. Have you heard of friendship transportation services? They have a commuter bus from Temecula to San Diego. I found their website, but I'm not certain they are still around because there was no answer to the phone numer. That might be a good way to get some ZZZss.

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Oh good idea! I am sure there are several commuter vans leaving from Temecula to the SDSU area (or maybe to the trolley that goes right to SDSU). I will look around and see if I can find any more options.

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Last week, the San Diego State University School of Nursing sent messages to several hundred potential students announcing the cancellation of the SDSU accelerated BSN program. Although faculty and staff had been hired, and significant work had been completed on the online course development, SDSU was unable to receive the final necessary approval for the program. This was unanticipated and took all parties by surprise.

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My heart goes out to all of you who were hoping to attend this program. I went through OU admissions just to see the same thing happen to that program...and I took an acceptance somewhere else rather than wait it out. Its such a risk to take all the prereqs for one program only to have it basically dissolved? I dont understand why nursing schools can't have some set standards and not be all over the map with their requirements.

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There is no nursing schortage THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF JOBS. THats proabably part of the reason it wasnt approved and as an UNEMPLOYED NEW GRAD IM GLAD IT WASNT.

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There is no nursing schortage THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF JOBS. THats proabably part of the reason it wasnt approved and as an UNEMPLOYED NEW GRAD IM GLAD IT WASNT.

It pains me to admit this but, right now based on market demand there is zero demand for this program. That may have factored in to the cancellation.

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