BRN committee conditionally backs Samuel Merritt—s Sacramento enrollment increase, asks for proof clinical placements won—t displace local programs

The California Board of Registered Nursing—s Education and Licensing Committee on June 17 recommended acceptance of Samuel Merritt University—s requested enrollment increases for its Sacramento campus but added a condition: the university must document that the clinical sites it plans to use in Region 4 will not displace programs already operating there.

Samuel Merritt representatives asked to add capacity for two programs: an entry-level master—s (ELM) pattern that would increase spring enrollment to 72 students (annual enrollment to 120) and an accelerated BSN pattern that would add summer cohorts so the Sacramento campus would enroll 48 students three times per year (annual enrollment 144). Dr. Resch, representing Samuel Merritt, told the committee the university had contacted hospitals and clinical sites in Region 4 and said the sites indicated they could accommodate the additional students.

Several regional program directors and clinical education managers told the committee they had not been contacted and warned that clinical placements in Region 4 are already constrained. Jennifer Holt, education manager at Mercy Medical Center Merced, said Mercy has partnered with Samuel Merritt and is "looking forward to their continued clinical placements at our facility." By contrast, Dr. Marla Seacrest, director of the nursing program at Stanislaus State, told the committee she did not receive outreach from Samuel Merritt and said St. Joseph—s Hospital in Stockton gave Stan State one week—s notice in January that it did not have space to host them, forcing an emergency relocation of clinicals.

Dr. Jerry Nayan, director at San Joaquin Delta College, said Samuel Merritt had not provided a clear plan for additional clinical sites and urged the committee not to approve the growth without demonstrated placements. Tanya Altman flagged a potential data mismatch, asking whether Marshall Medical Center (listed in Samuel Merritt—s materials) belongs to Region 1 or Region 4; Samuel Merritt said it would recheck regional classifications and remove any site that was not in Region 4.

Committee members and BRN staff reviewed regulatory tools. Mary Anne McCarthy explained the clinical facility verification process (form EDP IL-1) and cited Title 16, section 1427, which requires programs to report clinical facilities and allows the board to provide programs a yearly clinical facility report for verification. Staff reminded the committee that Title 16, section 1423(b) gives the board authority to deny or revoke approval for knowingly concealing or misrepresenting material facts.

After public comment, the committee voted to recommend the enrollment increase with the condition that Samuel Merritt provide documentation showing the Region 4 clinical placements needed for the new student cohorts will not displace existing programs. The committee said that if clinical sites cannot be made available as promised, the Sacramento campus must revert to its previously approved enrollment numbers. The committee asked that the board require end-of-year reporting of clinical placements per regulatory reporting timelines.

The committee—s recommendation will be forwarded to the full board for final action. The committee also noted it can revisit the decision if later evidence shows displacement or misrepresentation.