EPCC's
Nursing Program receives $157,500 to help alleviate financial stresses
caused by government program cuts.
There is a rising shortage of nurses, not only in the state of Texas
but nationwide. Just in time to fill the financial gap, the 79th Texas
Legislature took action to allocate money to the coordinating board
of public and private nursing programs. 
The funds came as a result of the increase in students that graduated
from the previous year. According to Anita Rhodes, the Nursing Dean
at the RG campus, the program has been short financially now for three
years.
According to Rhodes, out of the 840 students that declare nursing
as their major, only 60 slots are available each semester. There was
a graduate increase of 21 students from last year.
Veronica
Saucedo, 2nd-semester nursing student, practices on a similated patient.
The EPCC nursing program received $157,500 from state funds.
Photo by Linette Garcia
Out
of those 840 students, only about 289 are qualified applicants that
can pass ranking. Ranking allows them into the actual nursing program
after taking all the basic courses. "Our main service is taking
care of students. Increasing capacity would be wonderful," said
Rhodes.
"We would like to add new faculty, give slide incentives to current
faculty, and try to get more full-time people," said Rhodes.
"We'd like to provide students access to comprehensive health
science labs. They are staffed by part-time people and not always
open when needed," said Rhodes. According to Pauline Ballesteros,
the Nursing Program Coordinator, the allocated money is transferred
into a special account so the extra money will not get misused or
go into the general fund.
"We don't want to jump into anything, but we are looking at different
types of equipment and hoping to upgrade software. However, we will
look at what is specifically needed according to the spending guidelines,"
said Ballesteros.
"It would be great to fill new positions, but it wouldn't be
long-term because money would run out for those positions," said
Ballesteros, "It's really good for the nursing program though.
We hope to be able to produce decent graduates that the community
is in need of, as far as health."
According to Ballesteros, "Any of the nursing faculty could walk
out and get a job that pays way more, but they stay because they like
what they're doing."
Edna Ramirez, a full-time Nursing student, did not know about the
allocated funds but was glad. She does hope to see some improvements
that would benefit the nursing facilities. "The rooms in the
new building are kind of cluttered and crowded, it is not organized
like you'd expect a nursing school to be," said Ramirez.
"Aside from the extra testing to rank into the nursing program,
I actually think it is good to know the ones that pass, and actually
get into the nursing program worked for it," said Ramirez.
In the fall of 2003, EPCC built a 54,000 square foot building that
has 2 classrooms and 23 classroom/ laboratories, among other training
facilities.
It is located on the side street of the RG campus and is fully operational
with Phlebotomy and science labs. Despite the new building many students
feel there is still a need for more instructors, increased lab time,
and a desperate need for tutoring.
"Good teachers who teach the ranking courses are crucial to the
program," said Ramirez.
UTEP does not have many more slots open for the great demand either.
UTEP opens 80 slots per semester while EPCC opens 60 slots. The American
Association of College Nursing(AACN) is working to enact legislation,
identify strategies, and form collaborations to address the nursing
shortage.
"We hope to use some of the funds, according to guidelines to
maintain continuing education, and maintain currency at all times
to meet demands," said Ballesteros.
