Of Note

With California facing an urgent and growing shortage of mental health professionals, the three Schools of Nursing within the University of California system (UCSF, UC Davis and UCLA) are launching a new online certificate program that will prepare 300 psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) by 2025.

Beginning September 2020, the School and VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System (VAGLAHS) launched a post-baccalaureate nurse residency program to prepare nurses to address the health care needs of our nation’s veterans and their families

“This program will provide support for our new graduates as they transition from an educational environment to a demanding clinical environment,” said Dean Linda Sarna. “With strong mentorship and guidance, these new nurses will gain extensive experience in providing quality care to our veterans.”

The 14 undergraduates have completed most of their clinical and classroom coursework when they began their Public Health assignment on Skid Row. Here they have spent several Wednesdays picking their way through the clusters of sidewalk-blocking tents and measuring curb heights and vehicle speeds as part of an assessment of street safety issues facing some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

Pam Malloy, MN, RN, FPCN, FAAN is an oncology clinical nurse specialist with over 40 years of experience in clinical oncology and palliative care nursing, staff development, education, program development, and administration.

Kia Skrine Jeffers, Ph.D., RN, PHN, Speaks at Book Launch

Dr. Wei-ti Chen’s, RN, CNM, PhD, FAAN, research focus addresses the unique needs of the growing number of Chinese women and children with HIV/AIDS in China and in the U.S. She uses both qualitative and quantitative strategies to explore the issues facing nurses caring for, and patients with, HIV/AIDS. Her current grants are focused on a family care intervention. Dr. Chen is one of few nurse researchers who has conducted intervention research in China.

More than beaches and great weather, Los Angeles is one of the most ethnically diverse cities on the planet  – more populous than 42 of the 50 states and people from 140 countries speaking 86 languages. This diversity provides unique opportunities and LA offers the perfect crucible for an education at a great public research university, for learning about nursing, and for testing interventions that will make a difference in the health and health care of individuals, families and communities.  

AS WE APPROACH THE SCHOOL’S 70TH BIRTHDAY AND UCLA’S CENTENNIAL IN 2019, IT IS A GOOD TIME TO CONTEMPLATE THE FUTURE OF NURSING AND THINK ABOUT HOW BEST TO SUPPORT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SCHOLARS AND LEADERS.

Last month, our faculty began creating a new strategic plan to promote academic excellence, to expand our scholarship and to advance community engagement on local, national and global levels.I was excited to kick off the meeting with a discussion of the state of the school and the profession because, for both, the outlook is bright!

The path to nursing school is not always easy. Zenith Rahman, a second-year family nurse practitioner student at the school, wanted to have a greater impact on health care. In her own words, she shares what motivates her as an RN, why she decided to come back to school to obtain her advanced practice degree, and how she wants to make a difference.

I WISHED I COULD DO MORE WHEN I FOUND OUT THE HOSPITAL BILL WAS OVER $3,000.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE VITAL ROLE OF THE FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER IN PRIMARY CARE AND THE LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION OF UCLA’S FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAM, TWO ORGANIZATIONS AWARDED MAJOR GRANTS TO THE SCHOOL TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING NEEDED TO PREPARE THE ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE TO MEET EVOLVING HEALTH CARE NEEDS AND SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP.

SONG BROWN COMMISSION