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California State University Channel Islands is the recipient of a Congressionally Directed Grant for equipment for the Nursing Programs Nursing Simulation Laboratory. The $143,449 grant was sponsored by U.S. Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-California).

The grant money was appropriated during the 2008 fiscal year through the House Labor, Health and Human Service, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

Construction of the 3,300-square foot Nursing Simulation Laboratory will be complete this fall, with the total cost of the project budgeted at $1.97 million—which includes $1.319 million for the construction costs and $658,000 for the lab equipment. The Congressional Directed Grant money only will be used to cover the costs of equipment for the lab, and makes up 20 percent of the $658,000 budgeted for equipment.

The Nursing Simulation Lab equipment and the laboratory will provide our students with learning opportunities in a hands-on environment that will better prepare them for the situations they will encounter in the field, said Dr. Karen Jensen, Chair of CSU/CIs Nursing Program.

The Nursing Simulation Lab will be stocked with human simulators that can be programmed so that students can practice specific nursing skills. These types of simulators create a greater number of opportunities for students to experience and learn from cases or situations they will encounter as practicing nurses in the field.

The Nursing Program at CSU/CI accepted its first 66-student cohort in fall 2007, and will welcome a cohort of 37 this fall. The Universitys Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program is the only program of its type in Ventura County, and is one of only four universities—two others in Los Angeles and CSU Bakersfield—that offer a BSN in the region.

In addition to the recent $143,499 grant sponsored by Congressman Gallegly, since 2002, the Congressman has helped secure $198,400 to fund CSU/CIs Nursing Program. That money has been used to aid in the research, develop, and launch the Universitys Nursing Program.

CSU/CI will commence its first BSN degree candidates in 2010.

For media inquiries contact Ceal Potts, Communication Specialist at CSU/CI, 805-437-8940 or cecilia.potts@csuci.edu.

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CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

CSU/CI Mission Statement

Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.

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YourNews contains stories posted by members of the public.

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