Chula Vista’s agreement with San Diego State University to house a nursing program in the Millenia development on the east side is a bit bright news. Sort of.
The deal leases space to the university in the new library building at $1 a year for the next 10 years. Also, the city is expected to drop another $2.7 million in improvements before the move-in date later this summer.
It’s part of the city’s broader goal of attracting a permanent four-year institution to Chula Vista sooner rather than later.
“From day one, students are immersed in a collaborative, high-touch learning environment that combines the flexibility of online coursework with the depth of hands-on clinical training,” says Karen Macauley, director of the SDSU School of Nursing. “They are supported by dedicated faculty, connected to a strong peer community, and guided every step of the way as they build the confidence and skills needed to thrive as compassionate, practice-ready nurses.”
Hopefully part of that training includes lessons from Reality 101.
For starters, nursing education—like healthcare—isn’t cheap. And the federal government recently introduced policy that will limit the amount of money a student can borrow from the Department of Education to complete the necessary training. Anyone thinking they can finance their schooling with low cost government aid is in store for sobering news.
If the stress from a financial burden isn’t enough to make a student reconsider then stress from the job might. Following the height of the COVD-19 pandemic there was a significant exodus from the field. A 2020 survey indicated that two-thirds of nurses nationwide experienced burnout, leading to a significant portion leaving the profession entirely. That leaves an immense burden on the nursing staff left behind, though it does create job opportunities for new nurses entering the field, provided they can afford the training and survive the first-year burnout.
Anyone pursuing a career in providing healthcare and contribution to the public good should be lauded and supported. That support extends beyond the classroom. I hope we are up to the challenge.
