Shortages of nurses have sent hospitals scrambling to hire new registered nurses. With its six year grant of $2,890,392 from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Samuel Merritt College (SMC) will be able to educate additional new nurses by initiating an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program in Oakland and expanding it to the San Francisco and peninsula areas.

"The Foundation funding allows us to expand our program by adding staff, faculty and support positions. We will be able to purchase new equipment for our skills lab, and we will create a mobile skills lab within a 52 foot trailer. This will be a great addition to our program," stated Audrey Berman, PhD, RN, AOCN, dean of nursing. "The ABSN program educates students who already have a bachelor's degree in another field. We have found that students with a proven track record in undergraduate education make excellent nurses."

The ABSN is an intensive academic program which will be completed in 12 months. The program begins May 31, 2005 for SMC's Oakland campus and applications are being accepted now. The program will expand to the peninsula and San Francisco, opening sites in 2006 and 2007. For information about the program contact the SMC Admissions Office at 510-869-6576.

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation launched the Betty Irene Moore Nursing initiative in November 2003, with the goal of improving nursing-related patient outcomes in acute care hospitals. The initiative is focused in Alameda, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties. Funding strategies include increasing the quantity of registered nurses (RNs), improving clinical skills effectiveness, and promoting best practices for nursing care in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Samuel Merritt College, with campuses in Oakland, San Francisco, and Sacramento, is affiliated with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and Sutter Health. Samuel Merritt was founded in 1909 and offers an undergraduate degree in nursing; master's degrees in nursing, occupational therapy, and physician assisting; and doctoral degrees in physical therapy and podiatric medicine. Samuel Merritt College is the first institution of higher education to receive the prestigious California Governor's Quality Award.

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation was established in September 2000 to create positive outcomes for future generations. The Foundation funds outcome-based grants and initiatives to achieve significant and measurable results. Grantmaking supports the Foundation's principal areas of interest: global environmental conservation, science, and the San Francisco Bay Area.