An entry level master’s program in nursing will be available to Sacramento State students beginning summer 2006, possibly taking some of the weight off of the impacted undergraduate nursing program, said Kathy Robinson, a nursing department staff member.

The master’s program, which will be offered to nonnursing undergraduate majors, will provide an alternative to the undergraduate nursing major by allowing students who did not get into the competitive undergraduate program to get a registered nursing license in a graduate setting.

In 2006, the undergraduate program admitted only 63 students ?” whose GPAs averaged 3.722 ?” out of 325 applicants, according to the nursing Web site applicant statistics.

“One of the reasons these programs are so hard to get into is because of the lack of professors,” said Jen Green, a Sac State nursing student.

Students can earn both a registered nursing license and masters in nursing through the four-year graduate program, which includes a 14 month fast-track licensing portion, according to the Web site.

The 60 spots for the graduate program have been filled for the upcoming school year, but the department plans on having a yearly or bi-yearly application process. For the 2006-07 school year, the graduate program received somewhere between 200-300 applicants, Robinson said.

The program offers advisors for guidance before applications are accepted, Robinson said. The advising sessions will usually be held during evening hours because many graduate students are employed during regular business hours, Robinson said. The next advising schedule will be posted on the nursing department Web site.

The application criteria is similar to other graduate programs and requires prospective students to take the Graduate Record Exam, draft a personal purpose and compile recommendation letters, Robinson said.

In addition, prerequisite courses are required ?” 11 total ?” for students to be eligible for the program. Some of these classes overlap with undergraduate general requirements and include courses from the English, Biology, Chemistry and Communication Studies departments.

Green applied three times to the undergraduate nursing major before finally being accepted. “I was alternate number 45, but the new graduate program helped open up spaces,” Green said.

Students who had been trying to get into the nursing undergraduate program saw the graduate program as an opportunity to break into the nursing field. “It makes the playing field fairer, more even,” Green said.

Lindsey Apodoca, a prospective nursing candidate, agreed the program provides a great opportunity for students to get a nursing license and master’s degree. However, it isn’t something she’d apply for.

“Personally the program isn’t for me, but I would recommend it to others,” Apodoca said. Although a large number of students opt for a bachelor’s in nursing, as shown by the nursing department’s impacted program, a master’s degree is needed to teach.

Katie Austin is among the many students attempting to get into the undergraduate nursing program. She is close to graduation in terms of number of units, but has not been able to jump from pre-major to major status.

“If I don’t get into the program this fall, then I would highly consider this (graduate) program and recommend it to students in a similar situation,” Austin said.

Both Apodoca and Green said they are interested in seeing how the program goes. Robinson said the Nursing department is excited about the new program, but is still working on fixing some details.

The impacted nursing undergraduate program will receive further attention from the Faculty Senate in the coming weeks, said Tom Krabacher, Geography department chair and member of the faculty senate.

Binde Rai can be reached at [email protected]