Glendale Community College is one of three campuses in the county due to receive the additional funding for a program established by the county Department of Health Services in 2003. The program has already been extended twice, in 2005 and 2007.
The money would be in addition to vocational training grants the college has applied to for through the nearly $2 million in federal stimulus money allocated to the Verdugo Workforce Investment Board for retraining or assisting laid-off workers.
The county funding is aimed at helping to counter an ongoing shortage of nurses in the regional health system, which has been exacerbated by California laws requiring health-care facilities to meet certain registered nurse to patient ratios, according to a county health department report.
The tutoring and mentoring programs have resulted in increased hiring of registered nurses for county facilities as well as a lower drop-out rate among students who are enrolled in the program.
The mentoring and tutoring programs rely entirely on the county funds. At Glendale Community College, the money has funded peer tutors and a nurse advisor who focuses on student needs, as well as allowing for labs to be open at nights and weekends for student use, Dorroh said.
“They really supplement us being able to offer additional services to our students,” she said.
The college’s nursing department offers two tracks — one four-semester sequence for those without any nursing experience, and a career ladder option where licensed vocational nurses can become registered nurses in one year, Dorroh said. This semester there are almost 230 students enrolled in nursing programs.
About a third of Glendale Memorial Hospital’s staff come from out of state, so any program supporting local nurses should be encouraged, said spokeswoman Amy Stricker.
She said there is still a nursing shortage, although it has improved since last year.
“Regardless, it’s important that we have strong and successful nursing programs,” she said.
