COLLEGE, HOSPITAL TO OFFER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR GRADUATES IN NURSING.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Daily News Staff Writer

In an effort to guide new nurses into the profession and to fill an increasing need for trained nurses in the health care industry, Moorpark College and Los Robles Regional Medical Center are offering a new paid internship program for graduates.

Because of a nursing shortage, hospitals have a stake in making these new graduates comfortable with the profession and with the facility itself, said Brenda Shubert, director of the college's nursing program.

``Programs like this are critical,'' she said. ``The transition from student to the job can be overwhelming. There is much more responsibility, patients are much sicker than those they cared for in the past and the pace is much faster.''

The college's cooperative internship program began last year with Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills, and has expanded to include Los Robles for the first time at the request of the hospital.

Lee Abramo, director of education for Los Robles, said that despite the need for qualified applicants, it is difficult for new graduates to get noticed at medical centers.

``This will essentially allow us to see how qualified the grads are,'' she said. ``We'd like to see, before we consider hiring the new grad, how strong they are (and) how well they practice.''

Shubert said Kaiser is expected to accept nine graduates into its program this summer, and Los Robles will accept 11.

The nursing profession, as with many others, goes in cycles of plenty and few. Shubert said that a few years ago there were enough new nurses to fill the hospital's needs. But with the aging of the population, the industry is seeing a decrease in experienced nurses.

``We're not graduating enough nurses to take care of them,'' Shubert said.

On average, 66 students enter the college's two-year program, and approximately 50 are graduated, she said.

Abramo also blamed the shortage in the state on the mobility of its residents, and the fact that experienced nurses are leaving the profession for personal reasons, including some related to the new managed-care system.

The eight-week internship program, which begins June 22, is open to any graduate with an associate, bachelor's or master's degree in nursing, and a registered nursing license or interim permit.

The program pairs the interns with an experienced registered nurse at the Thousand Oaks facility, who will advise and help with decision-making.

Abramo said that while interns are not guaranteed employment at the hospital, it is possible. Interns will work 40 hours a week and attend a four-unit nursing course at the college.

They will be paid a slightly lower rate than a starting RN, and will be responsible for the $59 course fee.

Positions are available in the emergency department, neonatal intensive care, the definitive observation unit, postpartum and medical/surgical areas.

The deadline to apply is Friday, and applications can be obtained at the college's health science department, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. For more information, call [phone].