SBBCollege to tackle nursing shortage

SBBCollege Santa Maria is launching a program to tackle the critical nursing shortage in the state of California. According to estimates California is looking to fill 800,000 vacant nursing positions by 20151.

SBBCollege Santa Maria will be holding a Nursing Career Information Session on Tuesday, June 18th at 4.30pm. This session will educate perspective students on the benefits of a career in nursing and on the relevant courses offered at the College. A former graduate from the nursing program at the College and who is now currently employed in the nursing profession will be on hand to offer their experiences and to inspire students considering a career in this area.

Currently, California falls far short of the national average of 825 registered nurses employed per 100,000 head of population. The state has only 653 registered nurses employed per 100,000 people – and a shortage for vocational nurses is similar1.

Joseph Liddicote, Campus Director of SBBCollege Santa Maria, comments: ‘Nursing is a challenging yet incredibly rewarding career and is a crucial part of the healthcare team.  We aim to train the next generation of caregivers for the Santa Maria community — and in all care settings, including hospitals, outpatient centers, community clinics, physician offices, schools and nursing homes.

‘Job outlook is expected to be strong for years to come with The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating that nursing will create approximately 587,000 new jobs nationally by 2016. The program is designed for students looking to realize their potential in the nursing field and I look forward to meeting them at the event.’

Students in the SBBCollege Vocational Nursing Program learn vital signs assessment, medication administration and other patient care skills in a clinical setting. The hands-on training provides students an understanding of skills for patient care and safety, such as hygiene, feeding, transfer techniques, medication administration, oxygen administration, Foley catheter insertion and care, tracheostomy care, and wound care. The students practice the techniques they learn in a supervised laboratory setting and then perfect them at clinical sites with real patients.

1. http://www.nursingprogramshq.com/u-s-states-with-a-growing-nursing-shortage/

2. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Registered-nurses.htm#tab-1