Pacific’s School of Health Sciences New Program
On the morning of Thursday, November 18th, the university announced a new addition to the School of Health Sciences here at Pacific. It consists of an Entry Level Master’s of Science in Nursing for those with or without a health sciences bachelor’s degree to start in April 2022. This two-year program promises to “provide students with a superior, competency-based, learner-centered educational experience that will prepare graduate professional nurses to care for individuals, families and populations while engaging in collaborative partnerships to improve patient-centered care and population health outcomes” according to the university’s website.
Our Sacramento campus will be the host of this program, with clinical rotations near the main campus in Stockton and across the Central Valley, accommodating 80 students a year. And even though you don’t need to have a health sciences background, some of the requirements are to have a GPA of 3.0 (2.75 in science prerequisites), 3 letters of recommendation (both academic and professional), statement of purpose, resume, and completion of their prerequisites courses listed on Pacific’s website. Prospective students can also request more information by filling out the “informational” fill-out form on the website, or by contacting the Registrar’s office.
Upon acceptance, some of the expenses that the student needs to cover are a criminal background check, uniform, badge, shoes, and lab equipment; for an estimated cost of $335. There is also a provided course list that students can already check out with the tuition expenses reaching up to $1,000 per unit, plus the clinical lab fees that go $500 per semester, the mandatory hospital training on-line for $17.50 a semester, and the exxat fee which is $125 per year. Pacific has also partnered with the Abbott Fund to combat diabetes in Stockton, with that qualifying ELMSN students can receive a scholarship for at least 50% of their tuition. Nurses in California are paid the highest salaries in the nation ranging from $108,040 to $140,740 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This new program will be the 9th in the School of Health Sciences and will definitely be a great contribution on Callahan’s 10-year mission for Pacific to be the best, smallest, and most diverse institution in the nation. This entry level program will prepare students to take the NCLEX RN licensure exam, and obtain a Public Health Certificate, while also obtaining an MSN in Nursing. And by following the philosophy of the “Core Concepts for the Professional Nurse” which are divided into 10 domains for educational standards that will help as a conceptual framework for both the program and the student.
