STONE RIDGE – The SUNY Ulster Nursing Program was presented with the 2018 Professional Nurses Association of Ulster County (PNA) Honorary Recognition Award at their annual awards dinner last night in Kingston. The PNA Honorary Recognition Award recognizes an agency which has rendered distinguished services or valuable contributions to the nursing profession. This award comes as the nursing program celebrates its 50th anniversary of service to the Ulster County community.
“We are pleased to be recipients of the 2018 Professional Nurses Association of Ulster County Honorary Recognition Award as our Nursing Program celebrates its 50th anniversary. Thank you to our faculty and staff for their contributions to our program throughout the years and to our students for choosing SUNY Ulster for their nursing education.”
The Nursing program at SUNY Ulster was founded in response to Benedictine Hospital (now known as HealthAlliance Hospital) closing its hospital-based nursing program. The first class, consisting of 24 students, graduated from the program in 1970. Since the nursing program was founded in 1968, 1,920 nurses have graduated from SUNY Ulster, contributing greatly to the health and wellbeing of our surrounding communities.
Lisa Moruzzi, Chair of SUNY Ulster’s Nursing Program and 1999 alumna of the nursing program was at the dinner to receive the award for the program she now oversees. “I have a unique view of the nursing program – having been a student, faculty member, and now chair of the department and am very proud of my association with SUNY Ulster.”
Kevin Stoner, VP of Academic Affairs notes, “Our nursing program is a leader in nursing education in the Hudson Valley. To be a SUNY Ulster nurse is not only saying I’ve dedicated my life to the well-being of others, it’s saying that I am committed to doing that in the very best way I possibly can because I came to a program that stresses excellence and rigor and will accept no less.”
Throughout its 50 years, the program has maintained an innovative, forward-thinking approach in preparing students to meet the region’s healthcare demands with its state-of-the-art Elizabeth Tucker Nursing Skills Lab and the Gavner Simulation Center. SUNY Ulster also forged a partnership with Empire State College in advance of Governor Cuomo’s BSN in Ten law to offer a blended format RN to BS Program through which registered nurses in the region can obtain their bachelor’s degree. One student in the R.N. to B.S. program is Adrielle Sutton who received a scholarship from the PNA last night.
Some recent distinguished alumni include:
· Jess Robie ’16: American Nurses Association – NY Future Nurse Leader Award 2017
· Dana Wright ’15: Represented WMC/Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley on the Today Show May 4th, 2018
· Donna Becker ’14: Registered Nurse of the Year Award at Golden Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center May 2018
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