Bachelor's Degree Tailored for Registered Nurses Now Offered at SUNY Plattsburgh at Queensbury

"We are pleased to add an on-campus R.N.-to-B.S. nursing-completion program to our SUNY Plattsburgh at Queensbury Branch Campus offerings," said Dr. Stephen Danna, dean of the branch campus. "Requirements for nursing have increased as more hospitals and health care centers expect nurses to hold a bachelor’s degree. We’re pleased to offer this affordable opportunity for practicing registered nurses.”

The branch campus is located at SUNY Adirondack, which offers a two-year associate degree in nursing. Strengthening the connection to include a bachelor's degree program provides a seamless transition from the nursing A.A.S. degree.

"Our longstanding partnership with SUNY Plattsburgh coupled with our outstanding nursing program is strengthened with the addition of another seamless pathway for completion of the emerging industry standard of a baccalaureate degree in nursing," said SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy. "Being able to offer this continuum of education at our Queensbury campus is crucial to connect our students and community members with regional workforce demands in the growing field of health care."

The on-campus R.N.-to-B.S. initiative originated with the faculty of the SUNY Plattsburgh Department of Nursing and Nutrition. It passed several administrative steps and was recently approved by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Education.

"Our programs provide students with outstanding resources and experiences found in few colleges this size," said Noreen Houck, associate professor and chairperson of the SUNY Plattsburgh Department of Nursing and Nutrition. "Students work with dedicated faculty and industry leaders to provide health care to their communities."

The two colleges have had an extensive and cooperative relationship for many years, since SUNY Plattsburgh began offering master’s degree programs in education at the community college, said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling.

“The close affiliation between our two campuses has benefitted residents in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties,” Ettling said. “Since 1986, students have successfully completed course work toward baccalaureate and master’s degrees through classes at the Queensbury campus and online. I am pleased that registered nurses will now be able to pursue bachelor’s degrees through this new arrangement.”

Initially, 26 nursing credits will be held on site, including health assessment, health promotion, research, informatics, theory, public health, and leadership and management. The R.N.-to-B.S. program can be completed in four semesters.

A total of 415 students were enrolled in SUNY Plattsburgh nursing programs in fall 2014. Graduates have achieved a 100 percent pass-rate on national licensing exams within one year of graduation. All graduates in 2014 were employed within one year of graduation, with half securing a first job before graduation.

A formal signing of a 2+2 articulation agreement between the campuses will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, in the Regional Higher Education Center on the SUNY Adirondack campus.  Presidents Duffy and Ettling will be in attendance.

For questions on the new program or on applying for admission, contact Anna Liem, advisor and R.N.-to-B.S. program coordinator, at 518-564-4238 or [email protected].