LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Spring classes are finished at Siena College and 41 students have graduated as nurses. A pinning ceremony welcomed friends and family to celebrate their newest alumni. Siena says the pinning ceremony is a long-standing tradition of the nursing profession before it became part of the college curriculum.
Siena College offers both an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in nursing to prepare its students to become medical professionals. One of the students who received a sash, rose, and pin to commemorate her hard work is Tracey Callan. She taught middle school history for nearly 20 years until she was laid off during the pandemic.
Callan says she was inspired by nurses during the pandemic to become one herself. “I really thought of myself as being a lifelong teacher and that hasn’t changed necessarily with nursing. I still am able to educate others, still advocate for others. I’m still able to go into the world and help other people in many different ways.”
The New York State Nurses Association describes the state as in a staffing crisis that is affecting hospitals and nursing homes. Its President, Nancy Hagans, said:
“To address the nurse staffing crisis, New York needs a robust plan for nurse recruitment and retention, including loan forgiveness, funding CUNY and SUNY nursing programs, increasing instructor salaries, and encouraging more clinical training and mentorship programs in hospitals. There must also be a focus on improving safety and working conditions in New York’s hospitals to ensure nurse retention and safe, quality care for all New Yorkers.”
Siena sees some of these problems in its own program.
“It’s challenging to get into nursing programs and some of that is due to the lack of available seats in programs. Part of that is due to two things: One, the number of faculty to educate those students, but also, where we can do the clinical training,” described Jennifer Thate, Associate Professor of Nursing and Department Chair.
Freshman nursing classes at Siena start with around 70 students. At Fulton-Montgomery Community College, up to 50 students in a class work towards being associates of applied science in RN preparation. After passing a licensing exam, FMCC’s Director of Nursing, Eileen Casey, says its graduates also have a competitive edge in the job market.
“We have 100% placement within six months last year and even so far this year. Competitive salaries and competitive sign-on bonuses, absolutely. It’s a new world.”
As Callan enters this new world, she hopes others also feel inspired to reinvent themselves. “I absolutely would encourage to go back to school. It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely rewarding and I think we have to normalize that a little bit more. To say it’s a great thing to do.”
