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Nursing Department addresses needs of Gov. Rendell’s ‘Prescription for Pennsylvania’ health care plan
When Cynthia Mailloux, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the nursing department at Misericordia University, appeared on Capitol Hill to lobby U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Robert P. Casey in October, she not only represented health care professionals but also Keystone State residents.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing sent members representing all 50 states to Washington, D.C., on Oct. 29 to discuss important issues affecting nursing and patient care with federal legislators. The message was simple, but the outcome could have long-lasting implications for a struggling health care system and nursing profession.
"We are experiencing a shortage of both nursing faculty as well as practicing nurses in Pennsylvania," Mailloux acknowledges. "By increasing our legislators’ awareness, we are hoping funding can be found that will meet the profession’s needs while also improving the quality of care our patients receive. We are looking for funding for both graduate and undergraduate education."
In trying to help alleviate the nursing shortage, Misericordia actively pursued undergraduate and graduate grants to attract new professionals into the field. The program secured more than $169,000 in grants for the 2007-08 academic year and more than $180,000 in 2006-07. "The nursing department has secured these grants to help traditional and non-traditional students reach their educational goals while also lessening the financial impact on them," Dr. Mailloux explains. "First-generation college students have historically chosen Misericordia for their undergraduate degrees."
The flexibility in the nursing programs at Misericordia also enables nurses at hospitals and associated health care facilities to both work and attend classes.
"The mission of hospitals is to provide quality patient care. One important part of that equation is providing quality nursing care," Dr. Mailloux says. "The nursing program at Misericordia looks for opportunities to partner with regional hospitals to share resources, which will address the nursing shortage and career mobility for nurses who need advanced degrees."
The Misericordia University Nursing Department is Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most tenured program with more than 58 years of experience. Nursing opportunities at MU begin with the traditional undergraduate program that is designed for recent high school graduates who are interested in full-time study or adult students who want to attend class in a full-time traditional day format.
The Graduate Nursing program allows nurses to engage in an advanced practice clinical specialization. Students may earn a master’s as an FNP and CNS. These programs prepare graduates for the advanced practice role which is being promoted through Gov. Rendell’s “Prescription for Pennsylvania.”
MU also offers a post-master’s certificate in nursing education and FNP for nurses who already have a master’s degree. Misericordia’s Nursing Education Certificate is designed to address the national demand for nurse educators.
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