With Utica hospital affiliation discussions ongoing, St. Elizabeth Medical Center’s commitment to maintain St. Elizabeth College of Nursing (SECON) continues. The College maintains a strong tie with its parent institution, St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC), as well as other agencies to provide superior clinical experiences for students in all areas. It is actively recruiting students and offers an evening/ weekend nursing program in addition to the weekday program.
“St. Elizabeth College of Nursing students progress to be graduate nurses who are valued for their compassionate care and clinical knowledge,” said Varinya Sheppard, MS, RN, vice president of nursing at SEMC. “We are fortunate to have a strong academic and clinical nursing program in our community.”
SECON’s mission is to provide a strong foundation of theory and nursing practice within an environment of academic excellence that promotes active citizenship and a desire for life-long learning. In the spirit of the Franciscan tradition and values, the College is committed to creating a caring learning environment for diverse student populations. It was established in 1904 and currently enrolls 163 students.
"The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing has been a vital resource for educating well-qualified nurses in our community for over 100 years and we look forward to continuing and expanding this mission in the years to come," said St. Elizabeth Medical Center President /CEO Richard Ketcham, FACHE.
As part of its nursing education, SECON supplements its clinical rotations at SEMC with others at the St. Luke’s campus of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) in most areas of the hospital (maternity, psychiatry, Operating Room, ambulatory surgery, endoscopy, dialysis, medical/surgical areas and Adult Day Care). FSLH also hosts students for their preceptorships each spring. One of the strengths of the program at St. Elizabeth is its clinical component that combines the theory learned in class with actual nursing practice, allowing for immediate transfer and application of knowledge.
“We enjoy a strong relationship with the program and reap positive benefits because the students are able to experience clinical rotations in both area hospitals,” noted Patricia A. Roach, MS, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare. “Each hospital has its share of specialized programs, such as maternity, dialysis or heart surgery, which ensures that the clinical experiences are diverse and well rounded.”
SECON will hold an open house on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room at the College. Reserve a seat at the open house today.
For more information, call (315) 798-8347.