UCLA School of Nursing - 700 for our 70th Birthday!

2019 is a milestone year for the UCLA School of Nursing! 

In honor of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the UCLA School of Nursing, we are seeking 700 donations of ANY SIZE to the Innovation Fund by June 30th. You can participate today by joining Nursing alumni and friends from all over the world in celebrating our school's rich past and our bright future. The UCLA School of Nursing has been in the forefront of nursing education since its inception in 1949. The School understands the urgency and the need fornursing professionals at all levels of practice. With your generosity, the UCLA School of Nursing will educate highly skilled bedside nurses, advanced practice nurses, nursing faculty, and health policy leaders by providing resources which allow them to develop their skills within a cutting-edge environment and meet opportunities which will enhance their learning.

One of the things that makes nursing education challenging is the changing landscape we're in. Costs go up. Students come and go. New technologies change the way we interact with our patients.

Innovation is a requirement for excellence. And it's the difference between our institution's continued trajectory or the status quo. 

Over time, the importance of the roles nurses play in the health profession has grown significantly, as has enrollment in the UCLA School of Nursing. However, despite the increasing demand for nurses in healthcare settings and UCLA's growing reputation as one of the top nursing schools in the country, there has been a steady decline in state funding.

In addition to the rising enrollment, the average cost of a degree from the UCLA School of Nursing tuition has grown steadily, which has resulted in increased student debt. For example, MSN tuition increased 35% over the last 7 years. In some cases, students are forced to make the difficult choice between financing their education or giving up on a rewarding career which inspires individuals to achieve health, wellness and quality of life. 

The UCLA School of Nursing recognizes that our students are struggling to keep pace with the growing financial requirements associated with attending one of the top nursing schools in the country. Although 98% of MSN students received some type of financial aid in 2018, more can be done and that's where the Innovation Fund comes in. Donations to the Innovation Fund, whether big or small, provide flexible resources which allow the UCLA  School of Nursing to go beyond financing student's education, and also to pursue collaborative and interdisciplinary education and independent study projects.

Over the last 70 years, the UCLA School of Nursing has been a trailblazer in nursing research from the laboratory to the patient's bedside. Our talented students and faculty have advanced the practice of healthcare across the world by recognizing that the world will change, and the nursing profession must evolve with it.

How does your support of the Innovation Fund shape the future of UCLA School of Nursing? 

Donations of any size to the Innovation Fund have provided:

• Student Support for Kaplan Nursing Integrated Testing Program NCLEX-RN Review Course for Pre-Licensure Students. Approximately $630 total. It has proven to be effective. Last year’s NCLEX pass rate for UCLA School of Nursing students was 96.23% for BS students and 95.16% for MECN students.
• Uniforms are $44 a set (2 per student) and lab packs are $360 for pre-licensure students. UCLA School of Nursing students are required to wear scrubs to simulate hospital environments for the health and safety of caring for their patients.
• The UCLA School of Nursing supports student travel for national conferences and meetings (Western Institute of Nursing, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Association of Colleges of Nursing.) In 2018, the UCLA School of Nursing sent 27 students to 3 conferences. Some benefits to going to these conferences are that they provide forums for the exchange of scholarship and research and they encourage the application of evidence-based practice.

When you choose to invest in the next generation of nurses, not only are you increasing the value of your own UCLA School of Nursing degree, but you are ensuring that the nurses who may one day care for you or your loved ones are prepared to promote public health and advance healthcare equity for all! 

Donations of any size will ensure that the UCLA School of Nursing continues to be at the forefront of education, research, and service. Our history is rich and we are proud of the accomplishments of our alumni. Join the community behind the nurses who have gone on to shape nursing education and scholarship by being counted as one of our 700 for our 70th donors. Remember, donations of any size count toward our goal!