Pitt Johnstown Mag Summer 2010 ver4 - Pitt-Johnstown Home Page ...

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Strengthening Enrollment Quality
Approved Nursing BSN and other new programs strengthen quality.
It is widely recognized that the Commonwealth is
experiencing a shortage of workers in the healthcare area
and that such a shortage is expected to intensify.
Concurrently, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects
that employment for nurses will grow faster than most
other occupations through 2014.
Pitt-Johnstown has stepped up to respond to these
critical healthcare needs and strengthen the region’s
healthcare workforce through the introduction of a
Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree. The BSN
complements Pitt-Johnstown’s three allied health
programs in emergency medical services, respiratory care
and surgical technology. The first cohort of nursing
Minutes after the inauguration ceremony are UPJ President Jem Spectar,
students began classes in fall 2010.
Pitt Provost James V. Maher, and Pitt Chancellor A. Mark Nordenberg
“We’re excited to be offering this high quality,
bachelor’s degree program in nursing. Our curriculum
represents the best of evidence-based, high-tech,
contemporary nursing education provided in an
environment that fosters academic excellence, critical
inquiry, and lifelong learning. Pitt-Johnstown nursing
graduates will be prepared to meet the dynamic needs of
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PITT-Johnstown
st The RN to BSN program has been offered at Pitt-
Johnstown since the late 1970s. According to Dr. Grady, it
was originally intended to be “merely the first step in a
sequence that would ultimately result in the
establishment of a full Bachelor of Science in Nursing
program at Johnstown.”
“We didn’t have a traditional, four-year bachelor’s
degree in nursing,” said Dr. Grady. “Pitt-Johnstown had
only been offering an ‘RN completion program’ which
enables students who have received two years of nurse
training elsewhere to obtain a bachelor’s degree in
nursing.”
In over 25 years, more than 600 people have
completed that program.
Recently, the college developed A New Dimension of
Excellence for RealWorld Readiness, a strategic plan for 2008-
2013. This new plan focuses on increasing the recruitment
of highly qualified students who have a solid promise of
success. Dr. Grady explains, that “because health sciences
is one of several programs with demonstrated
effectiveness in attracting quality students, Pittcentury
health care in their future roles as providers Johnstown planned to develop and sustain a high-quality
and managers of care as well as leaders within and nursing program that will respond to the healthcare
beyond the profession of nursing,” said Dr. Janet Grady, needs of our community, as well as student demand.”
Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chair of
the Division of Nursing and Health
Sciences.
According to Dr. Grady, there is “We agree with UPJ President Jem Spectar, who
significant interest in the program. called the news a “great new chapter in our campus
Planners anticipate 40 nursing students
per class this fall, topping out at 160 history.”
enrollments when the program is at
JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
capacity in 2014.
When James Uhler, Pittsburgh,
came to Pitt-Johnstown, his plan
was to fulfill his prerequisite courses
for nursing. He thought that he
would need to go elsewhere to
complete the program. James was
excited to hear the announcement of
the new program and is pleased to
learn that he will be able to finish
his degree at Pitt-Johnstown. James
plans to specialize and become a
nurse practitioner or nurse
anesthetist.
“This distinct and attractive
new program positions Pitt-
Johnstown to deliver a high-quality
nursing program that responds to
pressing healthcare needs in our
community, and beyond,” said
Nursing students Jeane Duclos (left)
President Spectar.
and Cindy Turchak (center) receive
hands-on instruction from Dr. Janet
Grady