GRANT AIMED AT REDUCING RN SHORTAGE CITY OFFICIALS TO OVERSEE TRAINING IN GLENDALE AREA.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

GLENDALE - The Glendale City Council is poised to accept $515,000 in state funds today to address the shortage of registered nurses in the eastern San Fernando Valley by training 124 RNs.

The two-year training program will prepare licensed vocational nurses to become registered nurses, professionals with a higher level of expertise.

The area's five hospitals collectively expect to have 400 to 500 nursing positions vacant within the next 18 months, said Don Nakamoto, executive analyst with the Verdugo Workforce Investment Board, which would administer the grant under the direction of city government. RNs are more in demand than LVNs, Nakamoto said.

``It's a very, very worthwhile program,'' said Glendale City Councilman Dave Weaver. ``And the more we can get more people into a very good profession with a good future and steady employment, I think it's great.''

The Verdugo Workforce Investment Board will work with local community colleges to train 50 LVNs to become RNs, and it will work with local hospitals to offer the same training to an additional 74 LVNs.

More than a dozen hospitals have closed in the Valley in the past 15 years, but there are still several in the eastern part of the Valley: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in Sun Valley, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, and Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale. Some of the hospitals are expanding.

``It's unusual that the medical centers are so concentrated in one area, so health-care-related issues (are) really a prime topic in our region,'' Nakamoto said.

The $515,000 comes from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's discretionary budget, and Glendale has been tapped to administer the money. There is a nursing shortage statewide.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com