The California State University Board of Trustees denied Sacramento State’s nursing doctoral program proposal in January, while Cal State Long Beach was approved to start its joint nursing and physical therapy doctoral programs.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 2382, which allows the CSUs to offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and AB 867, which allows CSUs to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), last September.
CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed and the Legislature determine which campuses are ready to begin these nursing doctoral programs.
“The important thing to know is that the [board of trustees] allowed campuses to begin planning for the DNP and DPT,” said Erik Fallis, CSU media relations specialist. “Each program is still subject to the chancellor’s approval and determination of need and feasibility, and must demonstrate that qualified faculty, financial support, facilities and information resources are sufficient to establish and maintain the programs.”
According to Fallis, the programs must seek professional and regional accreditation and the recommendation of the California Postsecondary Education Commission, prior to the chancellor’s approval.
With California’s budget cuts, CSUS suffers a profound faculty shortage. This includes nursing faculty, according to the CSUS Academic Affairs office.
In the wake of the denial, the school will prepare for the program to be approved within the next seven years.
“Sac State would be interested in a DNP program,” said Carolynn M. Goetze, registered nurse and chairperson of the division of nursing. “But not at this time, and not until this legislative mandate for the DNP has been completed or revised, which is scheduled for 2018.”
Nearby campuses, including Fresno State and San Jose State, will offer the joint program.
CSULB, Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Los Angeles will offer the joint program in Southern California.
Those with educations in nursing are in high demand: According to the U.S. Bureau of Health Professionals, California will have a shortage of 100,000 nurses in 10 years.
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