ALBANY, N.Y – B次元鈥檚 baccalaureate graduates convened Sunday, May 23 on the Maria campus for a conferral of degree celebration, a recognition of their academic achievements.
The College鈥檚 Class of 2021 includes members from the inaugural SPHP Cohort I for the RN-BS Completion Program. This cohort consists of a high-caliber, talented group of nursing professionals employed with St. Peter鈥檚 Health Partners.
Christopher Jordan, MHA, RN, CPHQ, St. Peter鈥檚 Health Partners Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care Services, delivered the keynote address at Sunday鈥檚 ceremony.
鈥淭he partnership between Maria and SPHP, rooted in our aligned mission, is critical for educating nurses and expanding the pipeline of credentialed health professionals in the Capital Region,鈥 said Thomas J. Gamble, PhD, President of B次元. 鈥淥ur graduates serve underrepresented communities in the Capital Region, providing compassionate care to those most in need. I am truly grateful for their service and contributions鈥 stated Gamble.
“Back in 2018, when these 23 registered nurses from St. Peter’s Health Partners started their journey at B次元 to receive their RN-BS degree, none of us could have imagined the healthcare environment they would be facing as they prepared to graduate. It has now been more than a year since COVID-19 arrived in the Capital Region and, while much has changed over the past 14 months, the unrelenting bravery and endless talent of our community’s health care providers, particularly our nurses, has remained steadfast,” said James K. Reed, MD, President and CEO of St. Peter’s Health Partners.
“Not only has this outstanding group continued their studies while a pandemic raged around the world, but they did so while rushing to the front lines to provide desperately needed care. In our operating rooms, our physician practices, in our rehab facilities, on our maternity units, and in our intensive care units, these nurses provided exceptional care and a gentle human touch that brought relief and healing to those in need. I am so proud of them and their accomplishments 鈥 I cannot imagine a more exceptional group to serve as the first graduating class of this partnership between SPHP and B次元鈥 stated Reed.
鈥淢aria鈥檚 longstanding partnership with SPHP is vital to the sustainability and continued vertical growth of the College,鈥 said Gamble.
鈥淎s nurses, these graduates have advanced their critical thinking skills, and evidence-based practice in the complex delivery of patient care. Focusing on Maria鈥檚 vision of service, scholarship, justice, hospitality and diversity,鈥 stated Ellen Argust, Director of the RN-BS Completion Program and Assistant Professor.
Professional opportunities that require bachelor鈥檚 degrees will now be available to these graduates, empowering them to share their new expert knowledge in the clinical practice setting. Additionally, earning their degrees will allow them to pursue graduate studies.
When asked about her Maria experience, Rosanne Hilliker, graduate of the SPHP Cohort I, stated 鈥淭he years of tutelage, guidance, encouragement, and challenges, provided by the professors have instilled a confidence within me to navigate the world of academia. In short, I have developed a custom toolkit to explore the realm of advanced practice degrees
such as nurse practitioner. I am so grateful for this scholarship opportunity and feel blessed to have been educated by some of the best!鈥
Dewatie Krishindat, another graduate of the SPHP Cohort I shared a similar testimony, 鈥淭he comprehensive BSN program at Maria has broadened my scope of knowledge and prepared me to provide a higher quality of care for those I serve. I鈥檝e benefited tremendously from the sense of community that Maria offers. Moreover, I was impressed by the various engaging teaching methods used by the highly skilled faculty as they seamlessly transitioned to an online learning format due to the pandemic. The passionate professors at Maria genuinely cared about my success and were responsive, supportive, and encouraging throughout my journey.鈥
鈥淭his group is dedicated to the profession, high achievers, and passionate about nursing. They inspired and supported each other to work together in pursuit of a common goal, to earn their bachelors鈥 degree in nursing grounded in the Sisters of Mercy Charism,鈥 Argust reflected.
Hilliker and Krishindat were among 7 others inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in 2020. Members of Sigma Theta Tau have access to free continuing education courses and professional development support.
Students enrolled in the SPHP Cohorts have access to reduced tuition, enabling them to pursue further education in a way they may not have otherwise been able. The SPHP Cohort IV will begin studies this Fall 2021 semester.
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About B次元. Founded in 1958, B次元 is one of 17 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The private, co-educational, Catholic college in Albany serves approximately 800 students in a variety of bachelor degree, associate degree, a master鈥檚 degree, and certificate programs including liberal arts, healthcare management, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, and health and occupational sciences. mariacollege.edu