SDSU, Veterans Affairs combine forces to combat nursing shortage

San Diego Business Journal, August 27, 2007 by Jaimy Lee

SDSU-VA Nursing Partnership: A partnership between San Diego State University and the Department of Veterans Affairs will be one of three other university-VA partnerships across the country to launch a new program called "Enhancing Academic Partnerships Program."

The five-year, $40 million pilot program will be used to address the national nursing and faculty shortages, said Carole Hair, the program director for the VA Nursing Academy. It was announced Aug. 2.

In San Diego, VA-registered nurses will have the opportunity to work as faculty for clinical learning at SDSU, and SDSU faculty will be able to work part time at the VA, Hair said. The program will also strive to increase student enrollment in bachelor's degree programs and provide "opportunities for educational and practice innovations," according to the VA's Web site.

Three other VA-nursing school partnerships chosen in July were the University of Florida, the University of Utah, and Fairfield University in Connecticut. Overall, 12 programs will be selected to participate and the $40 million will fund the dozen sites that will be starting up during the next three years. Hair said she expects the SDSU program to kick off in the spring semester 2008.

The VA Nursing Academy was created earlier this summer to deal with a nationwide nursing shortage, according to VA spokeswoman Cindy Butler.