SJVC’s New Vocational Nursing Program Highlighted in the Santa Maria Sun

For years studies have shown that there is a shortage of nurses across the nation. According to a 2017 Department of Health and Human Services report, California tops the list with a projected shortage of 44,500 nurses by 2030. And after a global pandemic, nurses are needed now more than ever.

So to help communities address the shortage of nursing professionals, SJVC recently announced a new Vocational Nursing Certificate program at three additional campuses including Bakersfield, Rancho Mirage and Santa Maria. The new programs add to the previous Vocational Nursing program at the SJVC Visalia campus.

Shortly after announcing the program in these new markets, President of SJVC, Nick Gomez, spoke with the Santa Maria Sun about how it may impact the local community.

“A new vocational nursing program in Santa Maria aims to train the health care professionals of tomorrow and help close the gap in the industry. San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) recently announced an expansion of its Vocational Nursing program to three of its campuses, including Santa Maria,” according to The Sun. “The college achieves the employment focus through partnerships with local health care providers as well as a hands-on learning model for students.”

The new program prepares students for careers as healthcare professionals where they can acquire the knowledge to care for patients in a variety of professional settings. Vocational Nursing students learn about direct patient care, assessment, diagnostic measurements, procedures and treatments.

“The Vocational Nursing program that we offer is deep in its educational understanding, but it is geared specifically for that individual, upon completion of the program, to find employment,” Gomez said. “Whether that be in that local community or elsewhere based upon where availability is, it is a direct alignment to their career opportunity.”

The program includes a clinical rotation which allows students to further their studies in a real-world medical environment. This hands-on clinical training enhances the learning experience and allows students to develop a work history while completing their studies.

“We have a very unique circumstance in this environment with the pandemic that is putting extreme pressure on our health care systems, and we need trained people,” added Gomez. “We’re seeing, perhaps more now than ever, that a reserve is needed. We’ve been very fortunate and feel blessed to be in the space to provide education for individuals to achieve those outcomes.”

Here is a link to the article in the Santa Maria Sun: San Joaquin Valley College’s new Santa Maria-based program will train the nurses of tomorrow

The article is also included in their print Aug. 12^th (Volume 21, Issue 24) edition, titled “Health Care Heroes.”

Learn more about SJVC’s Vocational Nursing program.