A new nursing program is being opened at California State University Long
Beach (CSULB). The CSU Board of Trustees will be adding two new doctoral pilot
programs which could launch next fall: a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree
and a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree.
Early this year, the Board of Trustees approved the beginning process for three
DNP programs, including two which will be offered jointly across multiple CSU
campuses. Together with Cal State Fullerton and Cal State L.A., CSULB will offer
the joint program in southern California. Fresno State and San Jose State will
offer a joint program serving northern California. San Diego State was
recommended for a stand-alone program.
CSULB was one of five campuses approved to begin planning for the DPT degree
pilot program, along with Fresno State, Cal State Northridge, Sacramento State,
and San Diego State; all campuses which already offer a master?s degree in
physical therapy.
Last September, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two key
measures into law, giving CSU permission to offer the two new doctorate degrees.
The degrees had previously been strictly in the purview of the University of
California system as directed by state?s Master Plan for Higher Education.
Assembly Bill (AB) 2382 gave the CSU permission to offer the doctorate of
physical therapy degree. Five CSU campuses offer physical therapy (PT) programs,
and together, they already produce one-third of the state?s PT graduates. Still,
there is a shortage of physical therapy professionals in California, but with
the new doctoral programs, CSU campuses will be able to help address those
needs.
AB 867 allows the CSU to confer the DNP degree. The CSU already confers 65
percent of the state?s bachelor?s degrees in nursing, but the campuses are
facing some serious challenges in their efforts to meet the urgent need for
additional nursing professionals in workforce.
The DPT is particularly relevant to accreditation in CSU physical therapy
programs. In addition to passing state and national examinations, physical
therapists practicing in California must have graduated from an accredited
physical therapy program. Beginning in 2015, the National Commission on
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education will only grant accreditation to
programs awarding doctorates.
?The approval of the doctorate in physical therapy at the CSU was critical to us
being in compliance with the accrediting and licensure standards of the
profession,? said Kenneth Millar, CSULB?s dean for the College of Health and
Human Services, where, if approved, both doctorates would be housed. ?With the
doctorate in place, the CSU will maintain its leadership role in preparing the
workforce for professional physical therapists.?
?History should never dictate the educational needs of today,? said CSULB
President F. King Alexander. ?When these two bills were passed and signed, the
Governor and the state legislature gave permission for the CSU system to go
beyond the California Master Plan to offer vital doctorate degrees that will
have a significant impact on the future healthcare needs of this state.?
Hopefully the passing of these laws and the creation of these programs will help
California in its race to stop a looming shortfall of nurses. The U.S. Bureau of
Health Professionals projects California will have a shortage of more than
100,000 nurses in 10 years. One of the major setbacks in arresting this shortage
has been the limited number of slots available in California nursing programs,
which is tied to a limited number of individuals qualified to serve as nursing
faculty.
Hundreds of qualified applicants are not accepted to CSU and California
Community College (CCC) nursing programs.
?The doctor of nursing practice degree has a particular focus on preparing
future nurse educators,? Millar pointed out. ?A significant contributor to the
acute nursing shortage in California and, indeed, in the entire nation is that
institutions of higher education do not have sufficient numbers of
doctoral-trained faculty to meet the student demand in Schools of Nursing. This
doctorate is an important step in addressing this shortage.?
Now, the DNP and DPT programs will be subject to the chancellor?s approval and
determination of need and feasibility. Schools must demonstrate that qualified
faculty, financial support, facilities, and information resources are sufficient
to establish and maintain the programs. Prior to chancellor approval, programs
will seek professional and regional accreditation, as well as the recommendation
of the California Postsecondary Education Commission.