COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network, SUNY Cobleskill, and Maria College have partnered for nursing education to strengthen the nursing workforce in rural upstate New York communities.
Beginning in January 2025, Maria College in Albany will expand access to its 16-month practical nurse certificate program, held on weekends, to the Cobleskill area. The college’s licensed practical nurse (LPN) program will provide students with access to expert faculty and simulation resources. After passing the National Council Licensure Examination, students will become licensed practical nurses. Students enrolled with Maria College will be able to contract with SUNY Cobleskill for residential housing and its daycare centers.
“This collaboration will benefit our caregivers, patients, and communities alike,” Angela Belmont, Bassett senior VP and chief nursing executive, said in a news release. “Bassett Healthcare Network is deeply rooted in academic medicine. We are proud to support nursing students through their educational journeys and provide them with the clinical learning ground they need to succeed as future nurses. They will graduate with many career opportunities right here in Central New York, including at Bassett, where newly trained nurses can pursue rewarding clinical careers with robust pathways for advancement.”
Bassett’s network includes five hospitals, more than two dozen community-based health centers, 20 school-based health centers, and two skilled-nursing facilities that offer students a wealth of clinical opportunities.
“Success in this program hinges on strong clinical partnerships to help train future nurses,” Wendy Trevor, Maria College VP for strategic innovation and partnerships, said. “Rural health-care facilities are struggling with severe nursing shortages. Our weekend schedule makes this program an ideal option for career changers. The practical nurse certificate credential is a great first step for someone considering becoming a nurse.”
Future plans include broadening Maria College’s Andrew Lewis Siek School of Nursing program to offer associate and bachelor’s degrees in rural areas. According to Nursing Times, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a need for more than 275,000 additional nurses between 2020 and 2030.
“Affiliations like the one we are announcing today demonstrate how public and private institutions can unite to solve critical challenges, such as the growing demand for skilled nurses across New York state,” SUNY Cobleskill President Marion Terenzio said. “By sharing resources and expertise, we can expand access to quality nursing education while ensuring that our most at-risk communities will have the health-care professionals they need to thrive. Working together, we are building a stronger future for both our students and the state’s rural health-care system.”
Maria College is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and serves about 800 students in a variety of certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs.