Two nursing programs eyed for JCC this fall

Jefferson Community College will be home to two Upstate Medical University graduate nursing programs this fall if enough interested students submit applications by March 1.

The program needs 20 students for the Syracuse university's family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner graduate programs to come to Watertown.

"A number have expressed interest," said Elvira Szigeti, College of Nursing dean at Upstate Medical. "The big piece that we need is to have completed applications by March 1. Until I have those applications in hand, my hands are tied."

If Jefferson Community College secures the former Redwood Bank building on Coffeen Street for its Higher Education Center, the graduate programs will be housed there, JCC President Carole A. McCoy said. If the college doesn't get the building, she said, classes will be held somewhere on campus.

Many people already have started taking prerequisite courses for the graduate programs, Ms. Szigeti said.

The Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization has been working with Upstate to recruit interested students. Bringing graduate nursing programs to the area, in hopes of the students retaining jobs locally, is one of the organization's goals.

"Our mission is to be able offer these local jobs for our local people," said Erika Flint, the planning organization's regional recruitment project manager. "It helps the community members in a sense because they're able to achieve these high-paying jobs."

Ms. Flint said a Dec. 8 informational meeting at Days Inn exceeded her expectations. About 20 people attended the meeting, and overall, about 40 people have expressed interest in the programs, she said.

"At this point, the deadline is March 1, a hair over six weeks away," she said Thursday. "This is pretty imperative."

The two programs will be offered on a part-time basis. There also is a full-time option in which students may take a few classes here and go to Upstate's campus for the remaining classes, Ms. Flint said.

For those interested in the part-time study, Ms. Szigeti said, it may take four years to complete the programs.

The university's $40 application fee will be waived until it is determined that the two graduate nursing programs will come to Watertown, Ms. Flint said.

Applications are available on Upstate Medical's Web site. Under "Education," click on "College of Nursing." Then, under "Admissions," click on "How to Apply: MS."

Anyone who has trouble applying can contact Donna L. Vavonese, associate director of admissions, at 464-4570 or by e-mail at vavonesd@upstate.edu. E-mails should have "NP North" in the subject line.

Those interested in applying must have a bachelor's degree in nursing, an undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, a current state registered nurse license, cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification and basic health assessment and basic statistics credits taken within the past five years.

Nurses with a master's degree who wish to enroll in the post-master's program should have a clinical master's degree in nursing, health assessment skills and CPR certification.

Registered nurses with an associate degree also may apply through Upstate Medical's RN-to-MS program, but will be required to take courses in Syracuse to start.

Ms. Flint said she remains cautiously optimistic that Upstate Medical's graduate programs will be brought to the area.

"It won't happen if applications don't roll in," she said. "The north country will miss a phenomenal opportunity if they don't start coming in."