They are closing my nursing program

[HeartsOpenWide]

The CSU I graduated from just announced they are closing the nursing program I graduated from. Its the only BSN program in over 300 miles, one of only 11 in the state of California, and one of only 14 Certified Holistic Nursing Programs in the entire country. We live in a very repressed economy with what economy we do have is a "false economy" due to the high numbers of people with 215 and other forms of growing and not paying taxes. They voted to cut the nursing program but will keep all art programs including theater art. I understand all the arguments of "save the music" and art being a needed degree; but when it comes down to the nitty gritty nursing is a degree that is going to put money back into the economy, not starving artists.

I am not sure if I am allowed to posts all the addresses on here on who to write petitions to; but if I am allowed and people are interested please let me know.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Yes it is HSU. And yes the theater art program alone will not save a lot of money but if they can cut a bunch of smaller and larger programs that do not produced many graduates; instead of cutting programs with graduates that have useful degrees that put back into our economy which is of utmost importance in a recession....Our nursing program is the 7th highest program out of 64 degrees in the entire college to graduate students. (yes that was a typo in one of the articles I am going to post).

On a local News Network website:

What do you think of the HSU Faculty Senate's recommendation to close the university's nursing program?

• It's a shame but a necessary budget cut 12%
  

• Other programs should be cut before nursing 88%
  

Our area pays significantly lower than the rest of California and the majority of people that work here are one that have lived here a long time and went to Humboldt State University.

Below are the news articles that have been running in the last few weeks.

This is the one with the typo. It makes it sounds like the nursing program only graduates 7 nurses a year...it meant to say it was the 7th highest ranking to graduate students from their program....and the 2nd highest # of students to graduate.

http://www.times-standard.com/ci_14807012?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com

HSU's nursing program, which graduates the second-highest number of students per year as any other program being considered for elimination, is also the most expensive. The Academic Senate has estimated scrapping the program would save some $867,200 -- a major chunk of the $1.3 million needed. The department argued Saturday that its bachelor's program makes nurses more valuable and more capable in the workforce than the College of the Redwoods associate degree program.

http://www.times-standard.com/ci_14818136?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com

HSU nursing program likely to be recommended for elimination; Academic Senate to look at two packages in vote today.... Joseph Health System of Humboldt County issued a statement Monday saying it supports the program(see quote in article below). A statement by Judy Begley, St. Joseph Hospital's chief nursing officer, indicated that the program has a significant impact on local hospitals(see statement in article below).At Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata, CEO Doug Shaw said he hopes the Academic Senate chooses another direction for elimination. (see quotes in article below)

http://www.times-standard.com/ci_14828205?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com

Humboldt State University senate recommends nursing program for elimination; also votes to axe computer information systems and graduate film program.More than 50 nursing students -- most clad in their green scrubs -- turned out for the vote, after marching in protest through the campus carrying signs emblazoned with slogans like “Be fair to those who care,” “Stop Sacrificing Quality for Quantity” and “HSU Nursing Program May Save UR Life.”

http://www.times-standard.com/ci_14835382?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com

Officials voice support for Humboldt State University nursing program; Mad River Hospital to host day of support for program today.In the 48 hours after the senate's Tuesday vote, numerous elected state and national officials and local health care providers spoke up in support of the program, with some expressing grave concerns that its elimination could exacerbate a shortage of nurses in California and the nation.

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_14850937

President of Humboldt State University

Rollin Richmond

University President

[email protected]

1 Harpst St

Arcata CA, 95521

707-826-3311

University Provost

VP Academic Affairs

Bob Snyder

1 Harpst St

Arcata, CA 95521

[email protected]

707-826-3711

Governor's Office:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email is through a portal site:

http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email

California Nurses Association

Headquarters:

2000 Franklin Street

Oakland, CA, 94612

[phone]

F: [phone]

Press Office:

[phone]

Wes Chesbro

State Senator

Capitol Office:

State Capitol

P.O. Box 942849

Sacramento, CA 94249-0001

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

District Offices

Humboldt:

710 E Street, Suite 150

Eureka, CA 95501

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email portal:

http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.aspx?district=AD01&

Pat Wiggins

State Senator

Capitol Office

State Capitol, Room 4081

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

District Office (Eureka)

710 E Street, #150

Eureka, CA 95501

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

email portal:

http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.aspx?district=SD02

US House of Representatives

Congressman Mike Thompson

http://mikethompson.house.gov/contact/index.shtml

Email: [email protected]

WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE

231 Cannon Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

NAPA DISTRICT OFFICE

1040 Main Street, Suite 101

Napa, CA 94559

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

So what will happen to you and other HSU nursing students now? Will you stay in California and enroll in another nursing program? Or leave, like a lot of people have done.

[CuriousMe]

So what will happen to you and other HSU nursing students now? Will you stay in California and enroll in another nursing program? Or leave, like a lot of people have done.

The OP graduated last year (stated in her first post).

But I am curious what they're going to do for the current students.

[klone, MSN, RN]

What is the nursing job market like in the area? I understand what you're saying about cutting programs that produce graduates that go out and make money, but it seems to me that pretty much all over the country, there are far more new grad nurses than there are nursing jobs. What is the benefit of keeping an expensive program that produces more nurses than the local economy can handle?

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

They are going to allow those already enrolled to continue.

We might not have the best economy but nursing is one of the last economy and it appears to be dying too. As I said in another post, the hospitals here pay significantly less than the rest of California. Not to many people say, "Hey I want to move to Humboldt County and make half as mucn as I do now". Its the people that live her that need the HSU nursing program to keep nursing in our area around. I Graduated in May; moving 300 miles away to get my BSN was not really ideal on a marrage.

[dscrn]

this is indeed a shame,,,when Holistic nursing's role is finally getting recognition....

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Just an update:

Congratulations everyone for all your hard work! The HSU Nursing Program has been saved! HSU President Rollin Richmond announced today "Restructure the Nursing program, including reducing the number of students admitted to the program from 60 to 40. Require the program to develop a plan to address numerous organizational challenges." We did it!

http://www.times-standard.com/ci_14974037?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com

”They said (Snyder and Richmond) received 7,000 letters in support of the program,” she said. “This could not have been done without the community support. I think it was pretty cool that we were fighting for the community and the community was fighting for us.”

A lot of people got involved to help save this program. My hospital hosted a 12 hour petition signing with video journaling that was posted on-line and on the hospital web-site.

Stephanie Leach -California Labor and Work Force group through the governor's office. She is in charge of healthcare, specifically nursing, Dolores Jones - head of the California Institute for Nursing Health Care, Louise Baily - new Chair of the Board of Registered nursing and flew in to meet with the University Chairs to discuss their threats to close the program.

There was lots of marches done by the current nursing students. They also hosted additional petition signings at the local farmers markets at which point and interview was done and printed in the local new paper (although there are many articles written as well as letter written to the paper by professionals in support of keeping the program running)

[futurenurse84]

I just came across this post, and I know it's kind of old now, but I was one of the students who was suppose to start in the spring of 2011. They told me personall that I was guaranteed a seat, which lead me to decline my seat in other programs. I got the news just days before Thanksgiving, and, needless to say, I didn't have much to be thankful for that year. I tried everything I could think of to save the program. I sent tons of emails, and eventually no one at HSU would respond to me. Closing this program was a terrible decision, but I try to think that everything happens for a reason, and now I am getting ready to begin an LVN program and take babysteps to getting my BSN!