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 White Plains, NY - White Plains Hospital Center (WPHC) Monday held the third annual graduation ceremony for local and area high school and college students who are participating in the Hospital’s unique Nurse Apprentice Program designed to address the nursing shortage crisis.
Several milestones in the program were celebrated including the announcement that one of the first apprentices, Jennifer Colon of the Bronx, has been hired by the Hospital as a Registered Nurse. Ms Colon, who will begin employment with the WPHC Nursing Department in the Pediatric Unit, recently graduated from the College of Mt. St.Vincent, one of the metropolitan area’s nursing colleges.
In addition, Hospital officials noted these other significant developments since the Nurse Apprentice Program was launched in 2006:
The majority of the apprentices are pursuing nursing careers. Twelve of them are enrolled in nursing colleges and two others have considered changing their majors to Nursing. The five high school seniors have expressed an interest in applying to nursing colleges as a result of this Nurse Apprentice Program.
The number of summer apprentices has nearly doubled (increasing from 10 in 2006 to 19 in 2008). Applications to the summer program have also nearly doubled.
The program’s Nurse Apprentice Society has been expanded to a second high school in Westchester. It began at White Plains High School and, now, Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford has been added. More than 40 high school students weekly attend educational programs about the nursing profession This program has piqued the interest of additional local high schools, and future presentations are being planned. The program also reaches out to a younger audience including middle school students and local Girl Scout troops.
The Nurse Apprentice Program has gained wide support from the private and local business community as evidenced by the successful annual benefit held in September and contributions from local companies, foundations and organizations including Verizon Foundation, Westchester County Board of Legislators, Cuddy & Feder, LLP, Fenway Golf Club, Jane & Donald Cecil/Jandon Foundation, Morton’s the Steakhouse, New York State Assembly and Rotary Club of White Plains.
Certificates of completion were presented to the group of new and returning students who recently completed a 7-week intense, clinical apprenticeship.
In addition, the students shared their experiences about what they learned while rotating through a number of clinical areas in the hospital including pediatrics, emergency department, endoscopy, post-anesthesia care unit, ICU step-down, labor and delivery, maternal-child, medical-surgical, oncology and neonatal intensive care. The major educational component of the Nurse Apprentice Program is to shadow nurses to more fully understand their role in a clinical setting.
This year’s new summer apprentices are:
Michele Aguilar, Valhalla, a Senior at Valhalla High School
Ashley Alleva, Ossining, a first year student at Holy Name Hospital School of Nursing. Ms. Alleva graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in Psychology but has since decided to pursue a career in nursing.
Roselyn Baldevieso, White Plains, a Senior at White Plains High School
Maria Becerra, Port Chester, a Junior at the College of New Rochelle
Nicole Cordola, White Plains, a Junior at Stone Hill College
Alexa Greto, Port Chester, a Senior at Port Chester High School
Guadalupe Hernandez, White Plains, a Freshman at College of New Rochelle
Danielle Gulle, White Plains, a Senior at White Plains High School
Diana Hong, White Plains, a Junior at Stony Brook University
Kelly Longworth, Dobbs Ferry, a Sophomore at the University of Rhode Island
Yzela Rojas, White Plains, a Freshman at Buffalo University
Amanda Rush, Yonkers, a Freshman at Quinnipiac University
Elizabeth Villacres, Yonkers, a Freshman at Hunter College
In addition, there were six returning summer nurse apprentices from the classes of 2007 and 2006:
Miranda DeNardo, White Plains, a Senior at White Plains High School
Jackie Flooks, White Plains, a Freshman at Pace University
Nathalie Gonzalez, White Plains, a Sophomore at College of New Rochelle
Zanita Grose, Port Chester, a Sophomore at Pace University
Anesha Hines, White Plains, a Freshman at College of New Rochelle
Patty Swayne, White Plains, a Freshman at Adelphi University
Jon B. Schandler, Hospital President and CEO, said: “By every measure—from increased interest and enrollments, growing support from the community and getting results— White Plains Hospital Center’s Nurse Apprentice Program is a resounding success. We not only have our first apprentice graduating from nursing college and joining the Hospital’s top flight nursing staff but the program has created a growing pipeline for future nurses. Given the severity of the nation’s nursing shortage, this development could not have come at a more opportune time. I congratulate the Nurse Apprentice Program’s coordinators for their inspired leadership and these remarkable students for their accomplishments.”
The Nurse Apprentice Program is coordinated by Annie Norris, M.S. and Monica Purdy, R.N., M.A. The coordinators work on the local level to address the nationwide nursing shortage. One component includes outreach to other high schools and organizations in Westchester such as Girl Scouts troops and middle school students interested in health-related fields. Another component is the Nurse Apprentice Society, a high school club, which offers weekly meetings. This club provides educational programs and professional nurse speakers who introduce the students to the diversity and clinical opportunities available in nursing.
The Nurse Apprentice Program was initially made possible by a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Health Resources and Services Administration, and program funding from WPHC. Representative Nita M. Lowey (D-NY18) was instrumental in securing the federal grant, which expired in November.
WPHC will hold the third annual fundraiser for the Nurse Apprentice Program from 6 to 9 PM, Monday, September 15, at Morton’s The Steakhouse in White Plains. The event will include a cocktail reception, a lavish strolling dinner buffet and silent and live auctions. The cost per ticket is $125. A small number of luxury booths (seats 4) are available for $750 and reserved tables (seats 8) for $1,000. For tickets and information, call (914) 681-1040.
White Plains Hospital Center is a 292-bed voluntary, not-for-profit health care facility with the primary mission of delivering high quality, acute health care and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. Its Centers of Excellence include the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center, The William and Sylvia Silberstein Neonatal & Maternity Center, The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Stroke Center and The Westchester Orthopedic Institute. The Hospital has the busiest Emergency Department in Westchester County, treating more than 45,000 patients a year. White Plains Hospital Center is a six-time winner of the Consumer Choice Award, an honor given to the nation’s top hospitals by the National Research Corporation. WPHC is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and the Stellaris Health Network, Inc. For additional information, visit www.wphospital.org.
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