Terrence and Barbara Caster Institute for Nursing Excellence

The James and Mary Jane Wiesler Center for Professional Growth reflects the value of lifelong learning and provides opportunities for nurses to continually grow and acquire new knowledge and life skills.

We encourage a collaborative environment with state-of-the-art facilities and advanced clinical practices, so you can learn, feel empowered to have a voice and be inspired to follow your passions wherever they take you.

Our initiatives include:

• Philanthropy supported scholarship program

  • Pre-licensure (BSN) and advanced nursing degree support (MSN, PhD/DNP)

• Nurse Transition

  • NRP Program - ANCC PTAP accreditation with distinction

  • Transition in Practice

  • Preceptor and mentor programs

  • Specialty certification

• Nursing Leader

  • Nursing Leadership Academy

  • Team Mentoring

  • Leaders4Leaders Mentoring

  • Career coaching

The Sharp HealthCare Center for Inquiry and Innovation promotes the value of a questioning attitude to advance evidence-based practice, research and innovation.

Our initiatives include:

• Grant writing

• Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)*

• Doctorally-prepared nurses

• Nurse scientist consultation

• Research grants

• Statistical consultation

• Technology (computers, statistical analysis software)

• Dissemination and spread of projects and studies

*Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)

The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy through organizational excellence and effective nursing leadership. The Academy and its more than 2,900 members, known as Fellows, create and execute evidence-based and policy-related initiatives to advance health care.

Academy Fellows are nursing's most accomplished leaders in education, management, practice and research. Fellows include association executives; university presidents, chancellors and deans; state and federal political appointees; hospital chief executives and vice presidents for nursing; journal editors; nurse consultants; researchers; and entrepreneurs.

Fellows have been recognized for their international influence and extraordinary nursing careers and are among the nation's most highly educated citizens: more than 90% hold doctoral degrees and the rest have completed master's programs. Invitation to the fellowship represents more than recognition of one's accomplishments within the nursing profession.

Academy Fellows also have a responsibility to contribute their time and energies to the Academy and to engage with other health leaders outside the Academy in transforming health systems by:

• Enhancing the quality of health and nursing care

• Promoting healthy aging and human development across the life continuum

• Reducing health disparities and inequalities

• Shaping healthy behaviors and environments

• Integrating mental and physical health

• Strengthening the nursing and health delivery system, nationally and internationally

Learn more about the Academy.

Sharp employees Jaynelle F. Stichler and Luc R. Pelletier are Academy Fellows.

The James S. Brown Simulation Center embraces the value of reflective practice and promotes learning through simulation, technology, and innovative strategies.

Our initiatives include:

• Simulation center and specialists

• Innovative learning

• Outcome evaluation

The Center for Community Engagement reflects the value of collaboration and works to advance partnerships and the health of those served in the region.

Our initiatives include:

• Academic service partnerships — Through the Center for Community Engagement, Sharp partners with nursing schools to provide on-site clinical education to nursing students, yielding graduates with top qualifications. In 2021, 1,852 nursing students spent 37,148* hours in Sharp facilities for on-site clinical education.

  Sharp has provided learning opportunities for nursing students from the following schools:

    *Sharp HealthCare Community Benefit Plan and Report, 2021, p. 19; includes both group and precepted hours

  • Azuza Pacific University

  • UMass Global

  • California State University, San Marcos

  • Grand Canyon University

  • Grossmont College

  • National University

  • Point Loma Nazarene University

  • San Diego State University

  • Southwestern College

  • University of San Diego

  • Western Governors University

  • Western University of Health Science

• Community consortia

  • San Diego Consortium for Excellence in Nursing and Allied Health: Evidence-based Practice Institute

  • San Diego Nursing and Allied Health Service-Education Consortium

• Innovative clinical placements and student experiences

• Professional symposiums

• School of nursing advisory boards

• Equity, diversity and inclusion