Nursing Programs Can’t be One Size Fits All

The Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital has been educating nurses for more than 100 years, ranking among the top nursing programs in the nation. With a 99% job placement rate and an NCLEX-RN pass rate higher than both state and national averages, it’s no surprise why students choose to start their nursing careers at Crouse.

Not all of our students come to our program right from high school, however. Almost 90% of applicants are “nontraditional” students; they’ve already been in the workforce or raising a family, or they have another degree but have found their calling in nursing.

Juggling Classes, Jobs and Military Duty

Vincent Ferro, a Pomeroy College of Nursing student in the daytime program, expects to graduate in December 2020. A member of the Marine Corps Reserve, he’s required to be on duty one weekend a month and two weeks each year.

“The college is very accommodating to my schedule,” Ferro says. In fact, when he had to deploy to Norway for a few months just after being accepted, college staff worked with him so he could begin studies the following semester.

In addition to his duties with the Reserve and his coursework, Ferro works about 35 hours a week at several part-time jobs.

Sacrifice Is Worth It

Massama Donzo also works outside her time in the college. An evening program student, she is also a full-time nursing assistant at Crouse Hospital, working 12-hour shifts. Her schedule may seem grueling, but Donzo says it’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make for a profession she has dreamed about. She came to America as a Liberian refugee and now, as a single mom, she knows her hard work will benefit her family.

Motivation Leads to Success

Both Ferro and Donzo, who plans to graduate in May 2020, chalk up their resilience to the college’s faculty, advisors and fellow students. “The help is there,” she said. “You just have to ask.” Ferro agrees, saying, “They work with me to make sure I have the best chance at success.”

The college has many program options to fit a variety of needs. “Students enter our nursing program from different stages in life,” says College of Nursing Dean Patty Morgan, MS, RN. “A high school graduate and an older student seeking a second career can each succeed at Pomeroy.”

Ferro and Donzo agree if nursing is a passion, no matter where you are in your life or career, it’s not too late to pursue a degree in nursing.

>Learn more about a degree in nursing from the Pomeroy College of Nursing

Laurie Clark is the Communications and Digital Media Manager at Crouse Health.