Nursing Enrollment Increased By 30 Percent at San Jose State University

San José State University's School of Nursing will increase nursing enrollment by 30 percent and renovate the Nursing Learning Resource Centers (skills lab, library and computer lab), thanks to funding from The Valley Foundation, announced the university today.

The nursing student enrollment project will fund an additional 22 students per semester in the university's bachelor of science degree program over a five-year period, beginning in spring 2006. By fall 2010, 100 additional graduates will be prepared to enter the Santa Clara County's highly complex healthcare workforce. According to Jayne Cohen, director of the School of Nursing, San José State educates the vast majority of baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses in Santa Clara County.

"We value the ongoing support and commitment from The Valley Foundation for our nursing programs," says Cohen. "The new funding will not only help reduce the nursing shortage in Santa Clara County, it will also help us to provide cutting-edge curricula and innovative, real-world learning activities for our students."

"Since The Valley Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for the residents in Santa Clara County, we are very concerned about the impact of the nursing shortage in the county," said Dr. Edgar LaVeque, treasurer of the Foundation. "Therefore, we are pleased to partner with San José State University to enhance the educational curriculum and to increase the number of nursing graduates available to work in our community."

In addition, over a one-year period, funding from The Valley Foundation will transform the university's Nursing Skills Lab into a state-of-the-art laboratory, including a simulated environment in which nursing students will learn technical, hands-on skills. Funding will also provide for new equipment and a computer network with simulated client information.

Established in 1984, The Valley Foundation, headquartered in Los Gatos, seeks to improve the quality of life for the residents of Santa Clara County by providing grants in health care, medical research, social services, education and arts.

SJSU's School of Nursing offers baccalaureate, master's and post-master's nursing education programs. All programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The school also operates several Nurse Managed Centers in the community.

Media contact: Nancy L. Stake or Mansi Bhatia at 408-924-1166