The Nursing Student's Guide to Santa Barbara Education and Careers

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By C.J. Gustafson, Nursing Schools.com Contributing Writer

The Chumash Indians were some of the first people to make their home in the area that is now the West Coast city of Santa Barbara, California. In 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo arrived and claimed the region for Spain, establishing friendly relations with the Chumash. It was another sixty years before Sebastian Vizcaino entered the nearby channel to escape a storm that was raging in the open sea. The storm passed on Saint Barbara's feast day, and in gratitude, a friar on board one of the vessels named the bay Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara, California The area remained virtually unsettled by Europeans for nearly two hundred years. Then in 1782, Father Junipero Serra traveled from Mexico and established a royal presidio, manned by a small group of soldiers. Four years later, the first of three Santa Barbara County missions was founded to convert the Chumash and other Indian peoples to Christianity.

Word Of Santa Barbara's Appeal Gets Out
The Spanish ruled the area until the Mexican Revolution in 1822 when California became part of Mexico for a short time until it was claimed for the United States in 1846 by Colonel John C. Fremont. The California Gold Rush and transportation advances brought more new residents to the area and Santa Barbara became a city in 1850.

In the ensuing decades, the area began to grow as people across the country learned about the city's beautiful climate and scenery. Luxury hotels, cultural establishments, and even a film company came to Santa Barbara in the 1900s, drawing wealthy and well-known visitors from around the globe. Tourism became an important industry and remains so today.

Modern day Santa Barbara covers just over 43 square miles and is home to an estimated 90,500 people. The surrounding county, also named Santa Barbara, has a population of around 415,000 residents. It is 92 miles north of Los Angeles between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific.

Known As The American Riviera
The city is known for its beautiful beaches and is sometimes referred to as the American Riviera because of its similarity to the luxury resort area in France. The region encompasses dozens of other smaller cities including Lompoc, Los Alamos, and Santa Maria to the north, and Goleta and Montecito in the southern area where Santa Barbara is located. One third of the county's total acreage is set aside in the Los Padres National Forest, which includes the rugged San Rafael Wilderness Area.

This diverse geography and variety of cities nearby provides a wealth of different recreational and entertainment choices. As described on the Santa Barbara County Human Resources Web site, the city and the surrounding area have much to offer. "Museums, galleries, theater, music, opera, ethnic and film festivals, botanical gardens, and parks are abundantly available. Thanks to clean air and a mild coastal climate, Santa Barbara residents enjoy year-round hiking, surfing, boating, golfing, horseback riding, beach-combing, fishing, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities centered around local beaches. The city boasts a variety of booksellers, antique stores, and retail shops, from exclusive boutiques to factory outlets."

Nursing in Santa Barbara, California A History of Quality Health Services
Early on in its history, Santa Barbara gained a reputation as a health mecca. That legacy lives on in the quality health care facilities in the area and the many other businesses that are involved in the medical industry.

Cottage Health System, a non-profit health care organization, includes Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. With a combined total of nearly 500 beds, these hospitals provide renowned maternal-child and pediatric services; comprehensive cardiac, neurosurgical, and oncology programs; emergency services; and the only level II trauma center in the region. They are one of the area's largest employers with over 2000 employees.

Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic is a group medical practice of more than 130 affiliated physicians specializing in more than 30 medical fields. They employ just under 2000 people. For those who prefer to apply their training in a research and development area, McGhan Medical (a manufacturer of silicone implantable devices) has a workforce of approximately 700 people employed in a variety of positions.

Higher Education Facilities
Santa Barbara and the surrounding communities are also home to numerous higher education facilities, several of which provide training for those interested in a career in nursing or a related field. The Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine offers a general nursing degree as well as a Clinical Nurse program. They also offer a masters program in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Santa Barbara City College Nursing Program offers an AA degree in nursing as well.

The Allan Hancock College Health Occupations Program in nearby Santa Maria offers additional degree and specialization options, as do other schools within easy commuting distance from Santa Barbara.

Other areas of specialization include Critical Care Nursing, Forensic Nursing, Hospice Care Nursing, Midwifery, and Nursing Informatics. Students can train to become a Legal Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse (RN), or a health care administrator.

With its appealing climate and diverse recreational options, its educational opportunities, and its strong healthcare system -- and given it's proximity to Los Angeles for access to the benefits of a large metropolitan area -- Santa Barbara may be the perfect choice as you consider where to pursue further education in nursing and related fields.

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