Online nursing program launches

SUNY Poly’s roster of online degree programs continues to expand, with the launch of a bachelor’s degree in nursing this fall.

Through its online format, students from all over New York State, the country, and even the world will have access to the courses, faculty, and resources of SUNY Poly’s Nursing Department, allowing even those that are working full-time the ability to still complete a college degree in a format that is convenient to them, providing those with busy lifestyles and work schedules an educational option built upon a strong history of excellence at a great price point.

This online version of the long-running and highly successful on-campus nursing program at SUNY Poly reflects the changes occurring in the nursing profession and addresses the changing landscape of healthcare. For instance, topics such as ethics and epidemiology are integrated into all the courses as they are essential content areas that are highly relevant within multiple courses instead of being standalone courses. A course in Care Management has been added to the nursing curriculum to assist nurses in facilitating patient care seamlessly throughout the health care system. Also, the Public Health curriculum has been redesigned into one course to reflect the interwoven nature of the relationship of learning about community health support services and public health organizations within one’s community and aligning this information with the experiential component of the course. Students in Public Health will now be working in the field of community and public health at the same time they are taught the role and responsibility of the public health nurse and the appropriate ways of accessing support services across communities.

Registered nurses work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare services, nursing care facilities, outpatient clinics, schools, or serve in the military. These professionals provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

“The Department of Nursing at SUNY Poly is extremely excited to be welcoming the first class of students to the online nursing program,” said Dr. Kathleen Rourke, Interim Dean of the College of Nursing. “Given the new law requiring Associate prepared nurses to complete their BS within ten years, we believe our program is an excellent choice at a great price point and enables students from throughout New York State to complete the program on their schedule.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Registered Nurses is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. The bureau also estimates that with an increased emphasis on preventative care, growing rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, along with an aging baby-boom population and longer, more active lives, there will likely be an increase demand for healthcare services.