CNR News & Events

ENROLLMENT BOOM MARKS TURNAROUND AT
THE COLLEGE OF NEW ROCHELLE SCHOOL OF NURSING

NEW ROCHELLE, NY, October 28, 2004 -- For the past decade, the future for nursing and nursing schools in the U.S. has been bleak at best. Limited career and salary growth, overwhelming workloads, and a chaotic healthcare environment, have all played a role in discouraging people from pursuing a nursing career.

The School of Nursing (SN) at The College of New Rochelle (CNR) was no stranger to these broad national trends sweeping the health care field. Just a few years ago, the School was plagued by the challenges of decreasing enrollment. Today, the outlook for the College’s nursing school shows vital signs of robust health.
For the 2004-05 academic year, the School of Nursing reports that:

The total enrollment for SN has increased 33% since 2000-01.
The freshmen class in its four year undergraduate program is one of the largest in the school’s history.
The school’s accelerated baccalaureate program for those holding degrees in other fields, launched in 2003, has attracted a 50% higher response than expected this year. The newest class of 29 students includes a former software developer, architect, and an emergency medical technician. They will graduate after an intensive 18 month program vs. the typical four years it takes to get a B.S.N. degree.
The percent of men pursuing undergraduate and master’s degrees at CNR has also doubled, increasing from 3% in 1994 to 6% in 2004.
The school’s accelerated program for RNs continues to have wide appeal for nurses who wish to obtain their baccalaureate degrees before pursuing a master’s degree.

“The increased media attention over the past few years on the industry-wide shortage of qualified nurses has helped fuel awareness and interest in the nursing profession and the programs we offer,” said Donna J. Demarest, R.N., Ed.D, Dean of the School of Nursing at CNR.

“Our recent rebirth can be attributed to the overall strength of our undergraduate and master’s programs and the satisfaction that our graduates have with their SN education once they return to the field. The goal of every SN program is to provide nurses with the tools they need to succeed in the dynamic health care environment of today and the future.”
SN offers students courses geared to contemporary heath care issues. Students may take “Transcultural Perspectives in Health Care” as well as a “Community Health Nursing” course that provides the opportunity to work in settings including a Native American Indian reservation, AIDS/HIV program or asthma management program for grade school children.

Established in 1976, the School of Nursing is widely recognized for innovation and excellence in programming that is responsive to the public’s changing health needs. The School offers six programs: a traditional four-year undergraduate program leading to a bachelor of science in nursing; an accelerated program of study for RNs seeking a B.S.N.; an accelerated B.S.N. program for those holding degrees in other fields; an accelerated RN to M.S. program; and an M.S. degree program with tracks in holistic nursing, acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and health care management. Post master’s programs are available in all acute care tracks, HIV Aids, and the Nurse Educator role.

The baccalaureate program at CNR prepares a nurse generalist who practices in a variety of settings with clients of all ages from diverse and multicultural populations. A CNR graduate is prepared to assume beginning leadership roles and facilitate change to improve the quality of client care in the health care system. The master’s program prepares a nurse professional at advanced levels of practice in health care management. Specialty options in the program provide opportunities at all levels of advanced practice including health promotion and restoration, disease prevention and provision of care in acute and chronic illness.