Nazareth nursing ranked best in region and #4 statewide
Nazareth's nursing program is celebrating National Nurses Day (May 6) ranked the best in the region — and #4 statewide — based on Nazareth nursing students' licensing success over the past three years and the strength of Nazareth's accredited program, reports RNCareers.org.
Nazareth nursing students in 2020 earned a 97% pass rate in their first attempt on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®).
Nursing and public health double major Vicki Arena '21 has already secured a job in the burn trauma intensive care unit at UR Medicine's Strong Memorial Hospital after graduation. She said Nazareth College's nursing program had everything she was looking for.
"Small class size is one reason Naz was the perfect fit for me," said Arena. "I was able to build relationships with all of my classmates and staff. The nursing faculty knows every student by name and that is super important in a program that is as intense as nursing. We are also located in a great area that is very populated with various magnet hospitals where we can have our clinical placements."
According to RN Careers, nursing is one of the largest professions in the state of New York, with about 272,800 licensed registered nurses. It is predicted that an estimated 5,000 additional registered nurses will be needed annually. On average, New York nurses generally have a higher education level: 41% of RNs in New York hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Arena had an internship during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments working with public health nurses in a vulnerable rural setting. She says she's prepared for her career because of the variety of experiences she had while at Nazareth.
"One of my favorite nursing experiences was my medical surgical clinics. The staff on the units are really great with students and are willing to show and teach us at every turn. It has really helped me to learn my basic skills and feel comfortable in a clinical setting."
Nazareth's nursing degree program prepares nurses to be culturally competent caregivers with an awareness of global health issues, ready for the complexity and challenge of modern health care. With a curriculum rich with humanities, biological sciences, and social sciences, Nazareth's goal is to prepare professional nurse generalists who possess an in-depth knowledge of nursing and are able to provide culturally congruent nursing care to diverse patients and families across all health care settings.
Nazareth's nursing major accepts applicants directly into the program as first-year students and students have the advantage of interprofessional education and interaction with fellow School of Health & Human Services students, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, art therapy, music therapy, speech therapy, and social work majors. Nursing also collaborates closely with the public health program, for students interested in a public health dual major or minor. Each nursing student has a nursing faculty advisor for guidance and support throughout nursing studies. In addition to clinical experiences in acute, ambulatory, and community-based settings, students strengthen clinical skills right on campus through interactive experiential learning in Nazareth's state-of-the-art nursing simulation center.
For More Information
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 289-2456 | (585-781-8186 (cell)
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
Nazareth nursing student Gabrielle Olschewske (right) vaccinating students against COVID-19.