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The hospital’s contribution will provide financial support for a full-time faculty member in the college’s nursing program, allowing the college to continue bringing new individuals into the program yearly, according to Superintendent/President Kathryn G. Lehner and Nursing Director Dr. Barbara French.
The college’s nursing education program was facing the possibility of reducing student admissions, cutting back to a new class every two years instead of annually, French has indicated.
“Sutter Lakeside Hospital is proud to partner with Mendocino College in its efforts to provide excellent clinical education through its nursing program,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer of the hospital. “As part of our commitment as a not-for-profit community partner, we hope that our donation will serve to further the education of nurses for many years to come.”
The contribution came about as a result of a meeting between Mendocino College Foundation President Channing Cornell, Superintendent/President Lehner, the chief executive officers and other representatives from Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Ukiah Valley Medical Center in Ukiah, and Howard Memorial Hospital in Willits.
The hospitals’ leaders indicated a willingness to assist the nursing program, said Cornell. “This is an excellent example of members of our community coming together to help out until the state of California can provide funds for the College like they used to do.”
Nelson lauded the college’s nursing program and its ability to give students the opportunity to obtain training in nearby hospitals. “Mendocino College provides local students access to higher education in the field of health care, which allows us to support those same students by providing them with job opportunities upon graduation.”
She added, “Over the years we have had the opportunity to provide many nursing students with a hands-on learning experience in the fast-paced hospital setting. It always excites me to see students in their blue-and-white scrubs, taking notes, asking questions and working hard to understand our intense medical care environment. The residents of Lake County are fortunate to have access to Mendocino
College. We hope that our partnership will continue to grow as more students continue to enroll in the nursing program.”
French expressed her gratitude for the hospitals' contributions. “The nursing shortage is still expected to be critical in the next 10 years so it is vital that we prepare nurses locally to ensure we have nurses with roots in our community.”
She thanked Sutter Lakeside Hospital for its financial support that has allowed the college to hire a full-time instructor and to make fall admissions possible this year.
The Mendocino College Nursing Program was established in 2003 as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) to registered nurse (RN) bridge program, according to College Superintendent/President Lehner.
“It quickly became evident that to meet the local needs of our community the college needed to have a full two-year generic RN program which began in 2005,” said Lehner. “ That cohort had a zero percent attrition rate, and all are licensed in the state as registered nurses.”
In 2006, due to the local demand, the college obtained grant funding and foundation support and started yearly admissions, said Lehner. To date there have been 100 graduates of the program, and 86 percent of these graduates work in local facilities.
Mendocino College Foundation relies on contributions for providing scholarships to students and for helping it in its support for the College.
Information about the foundation, its directors, events and giving opportunities can be found on the Foundation’s Web site, http://foundation.mendocino.edu, or may be obtained by calling the foundation office at 707-467-1018.
