APU Announces Nursing Education Partnership with Citrus College

“We are thrilled to see these two excellent nursing programs join together with this new integrated curriculum,” said Renee Pozza, PhD, RN, CNS, FNP-BC, dean of APU’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Students in this program will benefit from a collaborative program of study taught by expert faculty from both institutions. Collaborative programs, such as the partnership between Citrus and APU, enhance student access in a cost-effective and efficient pathway to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing.”

This collaboration enables nursing students to concurrently enroll at APU and Citrus College, earning credits and clinical experience through both institutions. In just six semesters of total program study, Citrus’ Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students will graduate from APU with their BSN. This dual preparation makes such students highly employable, given that California healthcare organizations prefer to hire BSN-prepared graduates.

“At Citrus College, we couldn’t be more excited to partner with Azusa Pacific University and give our nursing students a great opportunity to accelerate their professional career,” said Salima Allahbachayo, DNP, FNP-BC, RN, director of health sciences at Citrus College. “As a community college, we place a great deal of importance on access and affordability. Not only will our students be able to save time and money through this partnership, they will also enter the nursing workforce as BSN-prepared nurses with a deeper level of knowledge and experience. Put simply, this is a game changer.”

The accelerated program elevates the proficiency of nurses entering Southern California hospitals and clinics, moving such graduates beyond the two-year associate’s degree while increasing their skills as caregivers. In combining the low-cost, open-access program at Citrus College with APU’s nationally ranked School of Nursing, students from all educational backgrounds will enter a pathway to a high-paying, impactful career. Students will benefit from APU’s RN to BSN program, which was recently ranked #2 in California by RegisteredNursing.org. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Board of Registered Nursing’s annual surveys, APU graduates approximately 4 percent of the newly registered nurses in California, with an employment rate for all pre-licensure programs at 100 percent within a year of graduation, and 90 percent of those employed within California. 

“This partnership between APU and our neighbor, Citrus College, demonstrates a shared commitment to offering innovative and accessible pathways to help students achieve academic success and meet their professional goals,” said President Adam J. Morris, PhD. “Azusa Pacific’s nationally ranked nursing program produces graduates known for their compassionate and competent care, who are leaders in their field and serve at top hospitals throughout Southern California and beyond.”

Baccalaureate-prepared nurses have been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital costs. Studies have shown that nurses with bachelor’s degrees score higher on measures of quality and safety, and earn more. APU ranks in the top 14 percent of nursing programs nationwide for early and mid-career salaries, according to Payscale’s College Salary Report.

At the same time, bachelor’s degrees can present financial challenges to students and their families. This effort contributes to the Institute of Medicine's 2020 goal of increasing baccalaureate-prepared nurses to 80 percent by 2020. The National Education Progression in Nursing Collaborative challenged nursing educators to create a seamless model that allows ADN students to complete the BSN degree within 1-2 semesters.

“On behalf of the entire campus community, I thank our neighbors at APU for making this extraordinary opportunity possible,” said Greg Schulz, EdD, superintendent/president of Citrus College. “Nursing is an incredibly rewarding profession that plays a vital role in our society. Through this partnership, we will be able to ensure that even more students are prepared to enter the field of health care.”

Students entering the Citrus/APU program will have completed prerequisite courses required for admission to the Citrus nursing program. Upon acceptance to the Citrus/APU program, the student concurrently enrolls in classes at Citrus and at APU, receiving complete student status at both institutions.

The two-year sequence covers 70 units at Citrus in courses such as pharmacology, psychology, medical-surgical, obstetrics, and pediatrics, and 50 units at APU, including pathophysiology, research and statistics, ethics and spirituality, and evidence-based practice. After the student’s fourth semester at Citrus, students earn their associate’s degree in nursing and take the state licensure exam to become a registered nurse. After taking a final course in public health at APU, they will earn their bachelor’s degree.

Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution on the West Coast, equips students to become compassionate leaders who impact the world for Christ. APU offers 66 bachelor’s degrees, 40 master’s degrees, 32 certificates and credentials, and 9 doctoral programs to more than 6,500 students at the university’s main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. Learn more at apu.edu.

Proudly serving the San Gabriel Valley since 1915, Citrus College educates approximately 20,000 students annually. The college offers associate degrees, associate degrees for transfer (ADTs), career/technical certificates and skill awards in more than 125 programs of study; prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities; and provides workforce training. Located approximately 25 miles east of Los Angeles in Glendora, California, Citrus College is the oldest community college in Los Angeles County and fifth oldest in California. Recognized as a top community college for Hispanic students for more than a decade, Citrus College has also received numerous accolades for its commitment to the arts, student veterans, study abroad opportunities and sustainability. Its 104-acre campus serves nearly 200,000 people in Azusa, Claremont, Duarte, Glendora and Monrovia. In partnership with neighboring K-12 school districts, Citrus College’s Early College program provides students from nine local high schools the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses taught on their respective campuses. For more information, visit www.citruscollege.edu and follow the college on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.