Frequently Asked Questions

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Why do the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and UC Davis believe a medical school is well positioned to provide initial leadership and ongoing collaboration in creating a school of nursing?

Health care is delivered by a team of care givers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals. UC Davis has a long tradition of health-care team collaboration and education. Integration of nursing students and medical students in academic courses with common standards and practices will better prepare physicians and nurses to deliver the highest quality care to patients. Many medical errors occur due to miscommunication and lack of coordination among the care delivery team. Through co-training future physicians and nurses, they will develop common language and learn how to improve care delivery through increased communication and coordination.

Why did UC Davis decide to launch a school now?

For several years, UC Davis has been exploring the establishment of both a school of nursing and a school of public health to address critical health-care issues in the state of California. In alignment with the university’s mission to apply knowledge to serve the most critical needs of society, UC Davis seeks to address the concerns of state officials and health groups about lack of nursing faculty, the evolving skills and knowledge required of nurses in an ever-changing health-care environment, and a need to improve health-care safety, quality and access. To meet these needs, UC Davis has conceptualized a nursing school that will pioneer a transformative curriculum anchored by the university’s strengths in team-based learning, innovative technology, state-of-the-art evidence-based practice, and contemporary leadership and management training.

When will the school open?

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis anticipates admitting its first students in master and doctorate programs in spring 2010 with classes to start in fall 2010. Doctorate and master’s degrees will be conferred by the proposed Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Graduate Group. Additional students and degree programs will be phased in over the next decade.

What is the process and timeframe to obtain UC approvals for a launch in Fall 2010?

UC Davis will follow the process of creating a new professional school as outlined by the State and UC Board of Regents. This process is already well under way, and includes broad consultation with faculty and the Academic Senate, approval by the UC Board of Regents, the Board of Registered Nursing and other entities. We have every confidence that these steps will be accomplished in time to admit our first class of graduate students in the fall of 2010.

How will this school compare to other nursing schools in the UC system and outside?

The mission of The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is to be a part of the solution to the vast problems in our health-care system. We aim to join the community of nursing schools to provide excellence in nursing education through our model of interdisciplinary academic and scientific immersion and intensity.

What’s deficient in current nursing schools programs?

Nurses make up the largest percentage of the health-care workforce and we believe the investment in nursing resources, education, technology, lifelong learning, team collaboration, research and leadership is one of the most effective ways to tackle the problems in our vast health-care system.

Will other nursing and medical schools embrace this model?

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing will be measured by the success of its graduates and the replication of its program. Along the way, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and UC Davis will be transparent about the key learning outcomes and make best practices readily available to other institutions or interested parties.

Will nurses and nursing educators trust or support a school led by doctors? Why?

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing will be led by nurse leaders embracing a collaborative educational model in partnership with a diverse and accomplished group of faculty and administrators from nursing, medicine, management and other disciplines. While nursing and medical faculty will coordinate some curricular experiences, doctors will not lead the School of Nursing. The model is designed to provide a comprehensive educational opportunity that couples academic rigor common to both nursing and medicine, with interprofessional education, opportunities with basic sciences, humanities, public health, business administration and information technology.

How will The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing impact current UC Davis Medical School training?

The UC Davis medical school faculty fully embrace interprofessional education and look forward to working closely with the School of Nursing faculty to facilitate collaborative, team-based educational experiences in small learning groups of students in nursing, medicine and other health-care professions. This training model will broaden the educational experience of both nursing and medical students and provide a venue for students to gain the perspectives of multiple health-care disciplines on how best to provide comprehensive patient care and improve patient safety.

Where will The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing be located?

The school will be located on the Sacramento campus of UC Davis, sharing facilities the UC Davis Health System. The health system encompasses the UC Davis School of Medicine, a 577-bed acute-care hospital with a level I trauma center and regional burn unit, an NCI-designated cancer center, a comprehensive children’s hospital, a nationally renowned Center for Health and Technology, a Family Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant training program and many other teaching, research and patient-care programs. The administrative offices of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing will be located on the fourth floor of the health system’s new, award-winning Education Building at Y Street and 45th Street in the heart of the Sacramento campus. To learn more, take a virtual tour of UC Davis Health System.

How will UC Davis sustain the expansive program after the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation grant is over?

It is expected that the school will receive state support within the same funding formulas and allocations as any other University of California nursing school. As is true with any major effort at the nation’s top universities, a mix of public support and philanthropic support from other donors — including individuals, foundations and corporations — will be required to realize the long-term vision. A plan for sustainability, which includes a fund-raising program, is being implemented.

How will the creation of The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing impact the nursing shortage in Sacramento and throughout the state?

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s vision to partner with UC Davis to create a new school of nursing was predicated on building a larger cadre of nurse leaders in all facets of health care. The school will advance training for future nurse leaders and in so doing produce more graduates capable of training the future nurse workforce. Graduates of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing may choose career paths as nursing school faculty, clinicians, research scientists, health-system executives or health-policy leaders working to strengthen the health-care system.

All positions will be listed on the Web site as they open. We anticipate staff positions to begin to open within the upcoming weeks and months.

How can I apply for faculty positions?

Faculty positions are expected to open in late Winter Quarter (March), but we are soliciting interest in joining the school now. Once the associate vice chancellor is selected, our goal is to have a qualified faculty pool for him/her to consider. If you contact us through the Web site, we will add you to our “interested faculty” list and send you updates on the approval process for the school and recruitment opportunities.

Will there be an opportunity to participate in developing the new program?

We have been inspired by the outpouring of support from around the country and welcome the expertise and input offered to us. Please visit the Web site frequently for updates regarding progress establishing the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and contact us through the Web site. As committees and progress continues, we will continue to solicit input from our colleagues.

 

When will the school start its degree programs?

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis anticipates admitting its first students in master and doctorate programs in spring 2010 with classes to start in fall 2010. Doctorate and master’s degrees will be conferred by the proposed Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Graduate Group. Additional students and degree programs will be phased in over the next decade. (See general questions and answers above.)

Did you consider offering a D.N.P. program in addition to or in place of a Ph.D.? Why or why not?

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing's early effort will focus on establishing a rigorous Ph.D. program to produce tomorrow’s nurse faculty, researchers, health-system administrators and health-policy experts. We believe that nurse leaders in these positions play a critical role in transforming the health-care system and the education for future nurse leaders. For these reasons, we are not currently offering a D.N.P.

What are the admission requirements and pre-requisite classes needed for each degree program?

Rigorous admission criteria will be required and will be defined by the faculty as the school is established. This information will be posted on the Web site once approved.

Will the School of Nursing accommodate working students through evening and weekend classes and part-time status?

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing will provide an innovative, immersive curriculum, anchored by longitudinal interprofessional learning experiences and integration of leadership, management, technology and evidence-based practice throughout the curriculum. Fully engaging students in this model of education requires full-time participation, so all students will be required to study full time. Through the generous commitment of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, we will be able to offer stipends to support tuition and living expenses for graduate students. Information on these scholarships will be available on the Web site once the criteria and guidelines are approved.

Since this school requires full-time enrollment, aren’t you excluding or discriminating against part-time nurses or the working-class nurse?

No. We are offering another option in the field of nursing education, providing a full-time program for students, whatever their socioeconomic situation. Details regarding scholarships, stipends and forgivable loans will be posted on the university’s Web site once the program has been fully developed.

Will scholarships be available for students?

UC Davis has an extensive menu of graduate fellowship opportunities that will be open to qualified candidates, as well as teaching and graduate research assistantships, which are awarded upon acceptance as a research or teaching assistant by the school. Graduate research and teaching assistants receive full fee waivers in addition to a salary. Named nursing scholarships and fellowships will become available as funds are raised through a comprehensive fund-raising campaign. For more information, visit the UC Davis Division of Graduate Studies Web site.

Will online courses be offered?

A number of innovative technology models will be used to enhance the learning environment. Content will be available to students online and through other mechanisms, but we are not envisioning a distance education option. This is because interprofessional and case-based learning are hallmarks of our curriculum. This will require full-time attendance on the Sacramento campus.