Public Employee Press

New class boosts nurses towards bachelors degrees

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Close cooperation among Local 436, the DC 37 Education Fund and the College of New Rochelle produced a series of new classes that are helping union nurses earn credits toward their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.

Acting on a request from both Judith Arroyo, president of United Federation of Nurses and Epidemiologists Local 436, and Local 436 Education Committee Chair Laura Humphreys, the Ed Fund and CNR's renowned School of Nursing initiated the Registered Nurse to Bachelor's of Science in Nursing Program at DC 37.

The program is available to members who are Public Health Nurses and Jr. PHNs, many of whom have associate degrees and want to earn bachelor's degrees. These Local 436 members work in public schools, hospitals and Health Dept. clinics throughout the city.

This winter the program offered for the first time the Health Assessment course, which provides four credits toward the BSN degree. The new class, taught by Professor Debra Miller-Salts, has 25 students and will be offered again during the fall semester. Last year CNR offered the Politics of HealthCare course, which registered 28 students.

"We're very happy with the response we've gotten from the students," said DC 37 Education Fund Program Coordinator Stephen Johnson. "That means that we're fulfilling our mission of making a college education accessible to the municipal workforce."

Student Fernando Marzorati, who works at Public School 210 in upper Manhattan, is very happy that he registered for the course. "CNR is very supportive," said the Local 436 member. "The teachers understand that the students have full-time jobs and families. It makes the class a lot less stressful." He's looking forward to CNR offering more nursing classes next semester so he can complete his bachelor's degree.

Jr. Public Health Nurse Diane Sacerdote is a 14-year veteran who works at Public School 148 in Elmhurst, Queens, and has 10 credits toward her degree. "The Health Assessment class is great. I'm learning a lot, and that means that I can do a better job right now with the kids at my school," said Sacerdote. When she graduates with her nursing degree Sacerdote plans to take the next step up the career ladder to Public Health Nurse, which will mean a substantial increase in her salary.

In addition to the classes offered through CNR's School of Nursing, the union is the home of the DC 37 Campus of CNR's School of New Resources. The DC 37 Campus is the only college in the United States headquartered in a union and focused solely on meeting the educational and career needs of union members. Since 1971 the Education Fund and CNR have made it possible for thousands of DC 37 members to fulfill their dreams of a college education in a supportive environment that union benefits make affordable.

To find out more about the courses that CNR will offer during the coming fall semester, members can contact Johnson at 212-341-4739 or CNR's DC 37 Campus at 212-815-1710.