Let California Community Colleges train more nurses

By Betty Lemon, special for Calmatters

This comment was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

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The road to become a nurse in California is paved with road blocks, sharp turns and difficulties. Where this education is offered has a lot to do with it.

As someone who lived on every long mile and continued to move forward, I believe that the solution consists in the expansion of the California College’s ability to offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing degrees.

Colleges in the community are where many nurses begin. They must be where we have the chance to finish as we move to our career.

Assembly A assembly 1400If accepted, it will allow some of the California Colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees under nursing programs. Students can continue their education in their communities with a price they can afford.

Before winning my nurse license, I worked for 15 years as a secretary of a department in a loaded emergency department. I dreamed of becoming one of the nurses I was looking to provide care.

I needed a program that was accessible, close to home and flexible enough to continue to have a living while I was studying. I chose Cerritos College and followed an associated -sister degree as this program is known for strict training and high success – including my cohort, which everyone passed the licensing exam.

Despite my dedication and experience in the workplace, I knew that I would not qualify for the nursing position I was looking for without a bachelor’s degree. But I was faced with a disappointing reality: I had to leave Cerritos College and take up the cost of a four -year university.

I graduated from my bachelor’s from the National University, which was a great opportunity, but it came with high prices and student loans. I managed loans and the trip, but for many Californians who already work or have a family, a bachelor’s bachelor’s program in Community would be a changing life.

AB 1400 is ultimately for fair access and Building a health work force This reflects the various communities in California. And it opens the doors for a health career that are desperately needed. Nearly 60% of California’s population Lives in an area with a shortage of nursesS To meet with the California predicted Need 65,000 more nurses by 2037We need more than one solution.

Today I work as a nurse at the trauma center where I started my career. I also pay him as a coach for success to nursing students at Cerritos College.

I have mentored many students who, like me, are the first in their families to enter a health profession. I see their passion, driving, and unfortunately their fear of the next step. The cost of training a bachelor’s program is Tens of thousands of dollarsputting it out of reach for many.

We need to meet students where they adapt to their work, family and financial situations.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.