Allison Oster
Senior Media Relations Specialist
(626) 815-4518
APU School of Nursing Awarded $140,000 by Kaiser Permanente
November 18, 2005
AZUSA, Calif. –
AZUSA, Calif. – On Nov. 4, Azusa Pacific University’s School of Nursing received a $140,000 forgivable loan from Kaiser Permanente to support students enrolled in the Second Careers and Nursing (SCAN) Program. This donation comes at a key time for the students and professors in APU’s nursing programs, who are looking to help decrease the nursing shortage in the state of California.
“The loan from Kaiser Permanente allows students to complete a master’s in nursing who might otherwise might not have been able to due to cost,” said Patricia Hanes, MSN, APU instructor of nursing. “This loan helps students not only with their finances while in the program, but also assists in establishing relationships with Kaiser Permanente professionals who generously support nurses and nursing education.”
The SCAN Program provides graduate-level nursing education for those who hold baccalaureate or higher degrees in other disciplines. It combines basic nursing skills with preparation for an advanced practice role in a clinical nursing specialty. The program enables students to receive accelerated master’s degree in nursing, which is highly needed in today’s medical industry. Through the forgivable loan program, these students perform clinical rotations and receive mentoring from Kaiser Permanente staff., and upon graduation, may work at any of the 11 Southern California Kaiser Permanente hospitals.
“The second degree candidates have demonstrated that they are committed to the nursing profession,” said Judy Husted, RN, MS, Kaiser Foundation Hospital’s executive director of patient care services, operations, Southern California. “[This loan] is one of the many innovative initiatives we have implemented to address the California nursing shortage, which is in a huge crisis. We are proud of the unique partnership we have established with Azusa Pacific University.”
With the increased nursing shortage in California, Azusa Pacific University’s School of Nursing continues its mission to place well-trained and highly qualified nurses into hospitals around the state and country. According to the California Healthcare Association, California ranks 49th in the nation in terms of the number of RN’s per capita - with 585 RN’s per 100,000 population.
Kaiser Permanente is America’s leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the healthcare needs of 3.1 million members in Southern California.
APU offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and four other undergraduate nursing options. In addition, APU offers a Master of Science in Nursing, an Accelerated RN to BSN, BSN to MSN, post-master certificates, Second Careers and Nursing (SCAN) leading to a MSN, and a Ph.D. in Nursing.
Featured in TIME magazine and ranked as one of the nation’s best by U.S.News & World Report and The Princeton Review, Azusa Pacific is a comprehensive, Christian, evangelical university, committed to God First and known for excellence in higher education. Azusa Pacific’s main campus lies just 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley, while its seven Southern California regional centers bring convenience and extend quality programming. The university offers more than 50 areas of undergraduate study, 22 master’s degrees, and 6 doctorates to a total student population of more than 8,100. For more information, call (800) 825-5278 or visit www.apu.edu.
