Mercy College Receives New York State Approval to Expand Nursing Program Online and at the Dobbs Ferry, Manhattan and Bronx Campuses

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y., Dec. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Mercy College is pleased to announce the official approval of the New York State Education Department to expand the College's nursing programs to provide increased degree offerings online and at the Dobbs Ferry, MercyManhattan and Bronx Campuses. The new degree programs, part of the College's School of Health and Natural Sciences, were added to help alleviate the nursing shortage in the Tri-State area and across the nation. The expanded programs also provided a seamless pathway for students to continue their education after the former College of New Rochelle (CNR) ceased academic operations in August 2019.

"Mercy College has established a comprehensive nursing program under the guidance of Dr. Deborah Hunt and Dr. Miriam Ford that will provide current and prospective nurses with numerous educational opportunities," said Joan Toglia, Dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences. "Mercy bridges the gap between what nursing students learn in a classroom setting and real-life experiences in a health care setting – resulting in sought after job placements of our graduates."

"Having a quality academic institution like Mercy College anticipate and respond to the needs of the market helps provide economic value to the entire Tri-State region," said William M. Mooney, Jr., President and CEO of The Westchester County Association. "We are looking forward to working with the College as it helps to fill the region's nursing shortage."

Mercy's four-year traditional nursing program, which launched in 2015 and has been at capacity since its inception, has now tripled in size. The first cohort of 23 students were recognized at a pinning ceremony in May 2019 and on December 20, 2019, the first cohort of 106 teach-out students from the former CNR will celebrate their pinning ceremony.

"There's great demand for highly trained nurses," explained Deborah Hunt '86, Ph.D., R.N., Professor and Executive Director of Nursing Special Programs, and former Interim Dean of CNR's School of Nursing and Health Professions. "Mercy is providing nursing programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels as patient demands become more complex and the aging population requires increased levels of care and nurses who practice from a holistic perspective who are able to think critically, utilize current evidence, and promote positive patient outcomes."

Based on unemployment projections by The Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an estimated need for more than 200,000 new registered nurses each year through 2026 to help fill jobs vacated by retirees. Mercy is working to combat this decline by increasing the nursing talent in our communities through in-demand undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Undergraduate programs include the Accelerated Second Degree in Nursing, Traditional Nursing (four-year program) and the R.N. to B.S. program. The College also offers opportunities for nurses to earn their master's degrees in three areas, including Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The College is planning to offer additional nursing programs in the future and has applied for approval to teach Traditional Nursing in the Bronx.

"It is important to tailor courses for busy nurse professionals," said Miriam Ford, Ph.D, FNP-BC, Chief Nurse Administrator and Director of Dobbs Ferry and MercyManhattan. "These new program offerings at multiple locations will ensure student success by providing individualized attention, convenient scheduling and small class sizes."

In addition to new course offerings, the College has created state-of-the-art classrooms that replicate real-world clinical lab and hospital environments. They include the Health Professions Clinical Simulation Lab, Hospital Simulation Lab and a cutting-edge 12,000 square foot space that includes specialized labs designed to simulate different disciplines within a health care facility. In addition, nursing students have access to the Health Assessment Lab which allows them to learn to conduct health assessments in a setting supplied with equipment typically seen in hospitals and clinics.

For additional information on these programs and locations please contact Miriam Ford [email protected] or 914-674-7865.

About Mercy College
Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy College is an independent, coeducational college that offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The vibrancy of the College culture is sustained by a diverse student body from around the region. The College offers campuses in Dobbs Ferry, Bronx, Manhattan and Yorktown Heights with additional teaching locations in New Rochelle, Brooklyn and Harlem as well as online offerings.

About the Mercy College Nursing Program
Mercy College offers nursing programs tailored for busy nurse professionals with individualized attention, convenient scheduling and small classes. The following programs are available at these locations. Bronx Campus: Accelerated Second Degree in Nursing, B.S. MercyManhattan: Nursing Education, M.S., Nursing Administration, M.S. Dobbs Ferry: Nursing (Traditional Program) B.S., Nursing (RN to B.S.), B.S., Nursing Administration, M.S., Nursing Education, M.S. Online: Nursing (RN to B.S.), B.S., Nursing Education, M.S., Nursing Administration, M.S
The College is planning to offer additional nursing programs in the future and has applied for approval to teach Traditional Nursing in the Bronx.

SOURCE Mercy College