Nurses – AltaMed Foundation

The AltaMed Nursing
School Collaborative

Educating the Next Generation of Nurses

Nurses are the backbone of the health care system, guiding treatment plans, advocating for patients, and helping them follow personalized care. Yet, the nursing field faces significant challenges. While many individuals feel called to the profession, economic, social, and educational barriers often prevent them from pursuing their chosen careers.

Experts predict a shortfall of 44,500 full-time RNs in California by 2030.

In 2020–2021, 75% of qualified applicants were not accepted to RN programs in California

To educate the next generation of community health nurses we have established the AltaMed Nursing School Collaborative in East Los Angeles. The Nursing School Collaborative will provide students with access to an affordable, world-class nursing education, including clinical training in AltaMed’s community health setting. Often, health care professionals settle where they train. The experience of being mentored by AltaMed health care professionals will likely inspire and empower nurses-to-be to follow their passion for caring for communities in need.

By establishing the AltaMed Nursing School Collaborative in East Los Angeles, we are changing the landscape for aspiring nurses and creating a brighter future for them, their families, and the communities they will serve.

LADDERS OF OPPORTUNITY

The AltaMed Nursing School Collaborative will recruit, mentor, train, and place nursing candidates at AltaMed clinic sites through the following career pathways. An investment of $20 million to launch the AltaMed Nursing School Collaborative will allow us to set the infrastructure and graduate 250 registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses in five years.

These programs address recruitment and retention of caregivers by providing career development pathways.
These programs aid in recruiting and retaining RNs at AltaMed by supporting aspiring and incumbent LVNs as they pursue their careers.
Numerous scientific studies point to the connection between adequate RN staffing and safe patient care. These pathway programs allow AltaMed to recruit, retain and develop a nursing workforce to practice at the top of their profession.
This program trains second-year NP students to provide culturally competent care in underserved communities. NPs gain advanced knowledge to diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medications and other treatments.

A grinchy heart grows

“I grew up in a household with my extended family. Growing up, watching my grandmother caring for her mother and brother inspired me.

Her mother was a bilateral amputee, and her brother was a diabetic on home dialysis. So I grew up watching her care for my great grandmother without any legs and having to bathe her, inject her with insulin, give her medications, and treat her wounds.

I watched my grandmother take care of her brother and connect him to the dialysis machine. It was peritoneal dialysis, so it was through his abdomen. As a child, I was like, ‘Wow’—I was spellbound. Those experiences really inspired me to get into nursing.”

“I went from being a med-surg charge nurse at another hospital to a Nurse Supervisor at AltaMed’s PACE. Nursing at PACE, a senior care program, has warmed me up.

Do you know the Dr. Seuss story of the Grinch whose heart was two sizes too small and all of a sudden it grew? The Grinch was born with his heart two sizes too small, so he hated Christmas and was so mean to everybody. He eventually stole Christmas and found the beauty of it and gave it back to the Whos.

My grinchy heart grew once I came to work at PACE. Being at my old hospital as a med-surg nurse made me very salty. It was very robotic. It was me and the machine, and repetitive work.

And, oh, my gosh, here at PACE, the bonds you form with your patients! You cry with these people, you get to know them and their families, and you become part of their family. They know my story, and I know their stories. PACE has broken me down and made me human again.

If not for PACE, I would be a grump isolated somewhere up in the mountains. My passion and warmth that I had as a nursing student has come back to me after working at PACE and these patients here.”

Marlene Ontiveros, RN is a Nurse Supervisor at AltaMed’s PACE, a senior care program.

Renowned Academic Partners

AltaMed’s innovative work in caring for the community is due in large part to the strength of partnerships and philanthropy.

The AltaMed Nursing School Collaborative will be no different. Once the school is launched, AltaMed will partner with established and respected academic institutions to provide the academic curriculum and certifications.

AltaMed will provide the academic setting, an enhanced clinical curriculum, clinic rotations, student recruitment, financial support to students, job placement in AltaMed clinics, and student mentorship opportunities.

Supporting aspiring and incumbent nurses on their educational journeys is an institutional priority for AltaMed. We have learned from the experience of helping nurses advance in their careers. With the help of our donors, we look forward to applying that knowledge as we bring the AltaMed Nursing School Collaborative to fruition.