Empire State University is the State University of New York’s leading online institution. SUNY Empire offers a high-quality education that is flexible and affordable and takes into account work and life experiences that can often translate into college credit. Most SUNY Empire students work full-time while pursuing their degrees. This is especially true for students in the School of Nursing and Allied Health, which offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and advanced certificates in diverse fields of nursing, including education and administration. These degrees help address the high demand for nurses in the Mid-Hudson Valley since most students remain in the region after completing their degrees.
The most popular program is the Registered Nurse to B.S. in Nursing (“RN to BSN”) degree. RNs with associate degrees can improve their career opportunities by getting bachelor’s degrees. Research shows that facilities that employ RNs who have BSN degrees have better patient outcomes. Students are recruited for this program through the region’s community colleges, as well as hospitals and health centers. Many community colleges have partnerships with SUNY Empire, which enable a smooth transition between programs.
SUNY Empire is also helping to address the shortage of nurse educators. According to numerous sources, workforce demand for nurses is high, yet qualified students are being turned away from nursing schools, including community colleges, due to a lack of nursing instructors. SUNY Empire’s BS in Allied Health Science degree targets health professionals who may have associate degrees and/or certification in fields such as radiology, emergency medical technology, dental hygiene, and respiratory therapy and want to become certified to teach, often at community colleges, or to serve as clinical practicum supervisors. SUNY Empire also offers master’s degrees in nursing education, for those interested in teaching, and nursing administration, for those pursuing administrative careers.
In addition, SUNY Empire provides advanced certificates in nursing education and nursing administration for those who already have related master’s degrees but want more education and training. In programs that require a clinical practicum, students complete these programs through placements in pharmacies, hospitals, schools, or other institutions in their home communities.
In 2023, SUNY Empire received a renewed multi-year designated support grant for nursing program scholarships, with an increased grant amount to support more students pursuing nursing education degrees.