If this were a time capsule to be opened in a new century, what would the next generation find of interest about the Division of Nursing at CSUS? In 1951 Sacramento State College offered already licensed Registered Nurses a Bachelor of Arts degree in nursing education in preparation for teaching roles. The College also provided the course work necessary to sit for the Public Health Nursing certificate examination. In 1957 visionary President Guy West saw the need for a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing preparing students for initial RN licensure, public health and school nursing. In 1958 the Department of Nursing, Anna Steffen, the first program chair, six faculty, and 38 students joined the Division of Science and Mathematics. The first class of students completed in 1962 and the program received initial national accreditation by the National League for Nursing. In 1967 nursing became a freestanding academic unit, the Division of Nursing. Mary (Molly) Goldberg was appointed chair in 1971 following Anna Steffen’s retirement.

During the early 70’s the demand for the nursing program exceeded capacity with 500 applications annually for 68 places in the clinical program. As a result the program added supplemental admission criteria and became an “impacted” program. During 1974 to 1979, the Division offered a very successful External Degree Track preparing 566 previously licensed RNs with the BS degree. In 1976 a school nurse credential program was begun, one of three in the state. This program has been coordinated by Dr. Susan Proctor since the beginning. In 1978 Goldberg retired and was replaced by Dorothy White for one year, followed by Annita Watson, who served as chair from 1979-1998. Robyn Nelson is currently the chair.

In 1986 a Master of Science degree in nursing was started preparing educators and administrators. Initially 30 students were admitted and in 2002 over 50 students were admitted with additional options to prepare as clinical nurse specialists or case managers. In 1991 the Division formed an affiliation with the University of California Davis Family Nurse Practitioner Program to offer the MS to the FNP students. This program has been a model for CSU and UC collaboration. As the program has grown from 1958 to 2003, the location of the Division has moved from the Food Service Building near the campus quad, to Sequoia Hall (the Science Building) to temporary buildings which occupied the space where the five-story student parking structure stands, and in 1983 to El Dorado Hall, formerly the State Fish and Game building situated between the “kids” (University Child Care Center) and the “cops” (Public Safety). Over a 40 year period the program has grown to 24 full time faculty, 33 part-time faculty, 6 staff, nearly 350 undergraduates, and 200 graduate students.

As the Division approaches its golden anniversary, the program is addressing numerous issues--a critical nursing shortage in California and the nation, an aging nursing workforce, an aging faculty, a complex and stressful healthcare environment, and a national campaign by Johnson & Johnson to promote nursing as a career. In 2000 the Division began admitting 120 clinical nursing students annually in response to community demand. As the only residential baccalaureate nursing program within a 100 mile radius, the demand for the program still exceeds capacity. Faculty continue outreach and recruitment efforts, particularly to students from underserved populations, to ensure that our students reflect our community. In response to a statewide need for more BS prepared nurses, the Division entered into a collaborative agreement with Sacramento City College to offer a seamless transition from the community college to the CSU. This program was the first collaborative curriculum approved by the Board of Registered Nursing in California. Eight students began the program in Spring 2002 and are scheduled to graduate from CSUS in Spring 2004 with both the AD and BS degrees in nursing.

The Division of Nursing faculty entered the 21st century actively involved in distance education, web-enhanced and web-based delivery modes, service-learning community projects, participating in aligning the pre-requisites for nursing throughout the CSU, and planning for an entry-level MS program for individuals with degrees in other fields. The motto of the Division of Nursing continues to be Creating Tomorrow’s Leaders in Nursing.