Program Details

The Care Coordinator Program prepares nurses to take leading roles in the new healthcare system that is unfolding under the Affordable Care Act. This program provides interactive seminars and preceptor-guided experiences over a 14-week period to prepare nurses to foster health promotion/disease prevention across various community-based healthcare settings. Our intent is that nurses who complete this innovative program will be offered and accept vital care coordinator roles within the community.

Care Coordinators provide patient-centered,  high-quality, comprehensive care within the context of family and community. Working as an integral part of primary care teams, Care Coordinators focus on preventive wellness care, management of chronic conditions, transitions between health settings, and follow-up care.

Program components include:

  • 4 units of graduate-level credit and a Certificate of Completion, including classroom and precepted clinical hours
  • 14 weeks total with required classroom seminars on four Fridays (9 am-3 pm) at Western University in Pomona (3/8, 4/5, 5/10, 6/7).
  • 135 clinical practicum hours in healthcare settings affiliated with Western University. Individual clinical schedules will vary as available and be arranged with designated clinical sites to meet the required number of course hours.
  • The program is structured to allow nurses to continue current employment while training for new roles. Applicants should plan to commit 16 hours/week to the course between seminars and clinical time, as well as related learning activities to be completed during personal time.
  • Tuition and fees will be covered by the grant.
  • The program will enroll 25 nurses.

Eligible candidates:

  • Registered nurses holding a minimum of a BSN degree. ADN nurses enrolled in an ADN to BSN or ADN to MSN program, and ELM students are also eligible to apply if they have completed their Community Health coursework prior to the start of this program. All applicants must be currently licensed as an RN in California.
  • Nurses interested in expanding their roles, those who are new to the Care Coordinator role, or are planning to obtain positions as Care Coordinators to provide leadership in the development of emerging care coordination systems within their organizations.

Applications are due by February 22nd at 12 noon. A professional panel will review and select 25 nurses to be enrolled in the program, and applicants will be notified by March 1st. With notification just 1 week prior to the first seminar, we appreciate your understanding in being available on short notice to meet the grant’s timeline requirements. For application questions or further information, please contact Jeremy Brown at jjbrown@westernu.edu or 909.469.5234.