SU Helps Close National Nursing Gap
These graduates are helping close the gap in the national nursing shortage, estimated to increase to 1 million by 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some SU graduates, such as Shea Ellis of Laurel, DE, are finding that the SU Nursing Department's reputation of teaching its students hands-on skills is opening doors. Ellis was hired in the medical intensive care unit at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Some hospitals were so eager to attract SU's 2003 graduates that they are willing to provide special benefits. The Children's Hospital in San Diego, CA, for example, flew nursing student Christine Ackerman of Sykesville, MD, cross-country for an interview.
Many of this year's nursing alums are receiving signing bonuses, relocation funding, money to pay back student loans and free graduate school tuition.
According to SU Nursing Department Chairperson Susan Battistoni, Ph.D., RN, SU nursing graduates are in high demand, especially at prestigious medical education institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and New York University.
"Our students are being actively recruited by numerous health care agencies," she said.
The reputation of the nursing program at SU has been attracting more and more students and SU increased its nursing enrollment by 30 percent in fall 2002. About 350 nursing students are expected to attend SU this fall.
Most SU nursing graduates have employers lined up before graduation, Battistoni said. For example, 2003 graduate Beth Ahern of Farmingdale, NY, is now working at New York University Hospital. Annie Jarobe of Ijamsville, MD, and Jennifer Evans of Riva, MD, are employed at Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital in Baltimore, and Chika Nwolisa of Bowie, MD, is working at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
With this success, nursing graduates are not turning their backs on the Eastern Shore. Many have signed contracts with local hospitals including Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury; Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, MD; Nanticoke Hospital in Seaford, DE; and Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, DE.
For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.