MiraCosta College Receives Federal Nursing Appropriation

MiraCosta College’s Nursing Program has received a $335,042 federal appropriation following the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764), which was signed into law by President Bush on December 26, 2007.  The funds will be used to meet the educational needs of our residents and expand the college’s nursing programs in response to the region’s chronic nursing shortage.

“Congressman Darrell Issa, working with Senator Dianne Feinstein, was successful in meeting a very important need in the community.  All of us appreciate their tremendous efforts on behalf of the region’s residents,” MiraCosta’s Interim President/Superintendent John Hendrickson said. 

The appropriation will be used to purchase equipment for the nursing laboratory and other necessary resources to assist students in being successful in the Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) and the Licensed Vocational Nursing to Registered Nursing Career Ladder (LVN-RN) programs. 

“It will also enable us to offer expanded enrollment for current military service personnel and veterans who would like to either advance their military careers or transition into the civilian workforce,” said MiraCosta College Associate Dean of Health Occupations Sandy Comstock.

This funding, which will aid in the expansion of MiraCosta’s nursing programs, comes at a critical time for the region. California ranks 50th in the nation in the number of RNs per capita, with 598 per 100,000 residents as opposed to the national average of 798.  North San Diego County has only 356 RNs per 100,000 residents.

“MiraCosta College is helping to address the nursing shortfall by providing the education necessary for new nurses to join the labor force and for experienced licensed vocational nurses to become registered nurses,” said Hendrickson. “We have also found that our program directly impacts North San Diego County; 95% of our nursing graduates remain in the region when they enter the workforce upon graduation.”

MiraCosta College currently offers LVN and LVN-RN programs. The college’s LVN Program is accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Exam for licensure as LVNs. MiraCosta also offers a class that transitions hospital corpsmen to the role of vocational nurses. Corpsmen who complete this course are offered advanced placement in MiraCosta’s LVN Program and receive LVN exam preparation.  MiraCosta’s LVN-RN Career Ladder Nursing Program began in the summer of 2007 and is accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing.  The program prepares students to take the NCLEX licensing examination to become RNs. 

MiraCosta College prepares more than 70 students a year for careers as LVNs and RNs.  Besides the LVN and LVN-RN programs, MiraCosta is also one of only four community colleges in California to offer a Surgical Technology Program.  The college also

offers a Certified Nursing Assistant Program and a Home Health Aide Program.  For additional information about MiraCosta’s nursing programs, please contact Sandy Comstock at (760) 795-6842.  Print-quality photographs of nursing students are also available by contacting Cheryl Kyle at ckyle@miracosta.edu or (760) 795-6612.