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Nursing school funding approved The seeds for a satellite nursing school in Rusk were sewn more than two years ago so that Rusk State Hospital could have "home grown nurses." An official announcement was made last week: a satellite nursing program will come to fruition in January 2009. A partnership between Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) in Nacogdoches and Rusk State Hospital (RSH) was inked by the SFA board of regents with the approval of an initial $100,000 budget for the new program. Additional funding will come later. Dr. Glenda C. Walker, director of nursing at the Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing, said the Rusk program will focus on the final two years of a four-year plan leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and registered nurse certification at Rusk State Hospital. Both the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools must approve the campus, but sources familiar with the negotiations do not anticipate objections. Both RSH and SFA envision up to 24 slots for nursing students with a majority of clinical experiences offered in locations close to Rusk. Ted Debbs, superintendent of Rusk State Hospital, was delighted with the approval by the SFA board. "We have a building ready which was previously used here for classroom purposes," he said. During the feasibility study, computer technicians at RSH and SFA tested a video feed over a high-speed T-1 line between the two facilities. "It worked fine," said Superintendent Debbs. The SFA nursing school plans to utilize teleconferencing, allowing students in Rusk to hear lectures and interact with students in similar classes in Nacogdoches. Mary Pack, MSN, RN will coordinate the Rusk nursing extension program. Nursing students will also be assigned to Rusk State Hospital staff members, who will serve as preceptors for the program. "Every patient admitted to the hospital receives a full health assessment," said Mr. Debbs. This is an area of RSH patient care that will give nursing students practical experience. Mr. Debbs stressed that the parameters of the program are still under discussion between his facility and SFA. He predicted that SFA will not have difficulty in filling the 24 slots. Behind the scenes Early discussions between Rusk and SFA was followed by an in-depth feasibility study to gauge the community's interest. Rusk ISD, Rusk State Hospital and the Texas Department of Corrections - the three largest employers in Rusk - distributed surveys to their personnel and students. "This feasibility study surveyed 358 Rusk High School students in the 9th-12th grades and 692 Jacksonville High School students in the 9th-12th grades. "The results indicated significant interest in the Rusk nursing program," she said. Dr. Jim Largent, superintendent of Rusk ISD, said he was pleased to help gather data for the research study. He cited a nurses' aide program he initiated in Rusk approximately six years ago, shortly after assuming the superintendent's post. "The certified nursing assistant program (CNA) is a state certification program through the Department of Health," he said. CNA certification is a gateway to gaining employment at nursing homes and other medical institutions. From 12-25 students at Rusk High School register for the CNA elective class each year. Dr. Largent said that he hopes some of those graduates will be possible candidates for the new SFA nursing campus. "The medical industry is big, it pays well, and offers a great opportunity," he said. Dr. Largent said he will search for opportunities to co-op with the new program so that RHS students are aware of the educational opportunity for a nursing degree in Rusk. The expansion of a satellite campus in Rusk follows the last legislative session in which Gov. Rick Perry discussed the critical nursing shortage in the State of the State address. He challenged nursing schools to grow by 25 percent and graduate 9,700 more students in just two years. Dr. Richard Berry, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, said, "This program (in Rusk) will enable SFA to increase enrollment in our nursing program and to extend outreach in the wider East Texas region while offering qualified students the chance to complete a bachelor's degree in nursing." Buz Parrish, working on behalf of the Rusk Industrial Foundation to secure a nursing school, told the membership in February 2007 that it is not uncommon for East Texas nursing schools to have 130 applicants for 60 slots. Dr. Walker agrees. "Statewide data indicates that over the past several years that approximately 11,000 qualified students are denied admission to nursing programs because of lack of available positions in existing nursing programs." The architect of the negotiations between RSH and SFA is Citizens 1st Bank CEO James I. Perkins. The symbiotic relationship between SFA and RSH follows the governor's initiative: to increase enrollment, increase capacity and use innovative education models. Dr. Walker praised the community wide effort to bring the nursing school to Rusk. "The passion and commitment of the community to bring SFA Nursing to Rusk made it a reality," she said. In return for offering facilities to SFA, Mr. Debbs admits to an ulterior motive: he hopes to hire some of the nurse graduates at Rusk State Hospital. State Rep. Chuck Hopson (D-Jacksonville) served in the last session that helped secure funding for the statewide initiative to graduate more nurses. "This is another example of how the various centers of higher education, business and our state facilities working together can be better together than by themselves. Not only the City of Rusk, Rusk State Hospital, but all of East Texas will benefit from this far-sited endeavor," he said. Mr. Debbs agrees. "Home grown nurses - it's a winwin." For more information on applying to this program, contact Ms. Pack or Dr. Walker at (936) 468-1492. Nursing shortage called 'state of emergency' A report by the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce said the state is facing an unprecedented nursing shortage. The chart shows the demand for more nurses in the future: |
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