June 2006 Ulster BOCES Practical Nursing Students Graduate In the golden glow of Dorothea Jones of Highland, accompanied by her son DJ Newkirk Fellow graduate Harriet Oppenheimer of Red Hook, who in addition to being a full-time nursing student and a volunteer for an ambulance squad, is eagerly anticipating the next stage of her new career. “At my age, 59, the Ulster BOCES nursing program was a wonderful experience,” reflected Oppenheimer, who came out of retirement to pursue “a whole new career.” After graduation, she hopes to gain employment at the Northeast Center for Special Care in Lake Katrine. “I want to work with developmentally disabled young adults and children,” stated Oppenheimer, who credits the staff at Ulster BOCES with preparing her for her new future. “I set a goal for what I wanted to do and the staff was just there for me. My instructor, Nancy Smith, was a wonderful mentor.” Husband-and-wife graduates Annajane Rodriguez and Jaime Rodriguez of Napanoch were all smiles at the ceremony. “We’re happy to be graduating,” says Annajane who is a nurse at Ellenville Regional Hospital. Gilzene Carill traveled a long way just to attend the Ulster BOCES PN program. Cargill, who hails from Connecticut, is staying in Poughkeepsie until she finishes her nursing training. She has already embarked upon the next leg of her educational journey by enrolling in the registered nursing program at SUNY Ulster. “Ulster BOCES really helps prepare you for continuing on with nursing studies.” Marita Kitchell, supervisor of Health Occupations and New Visions at Ulster BOCES commended the students for their hard work and academic achievements. “Nursing is more than giving medications. There is a humanistic side to nursing. It takes a special kind of person to take on this endeavor. Caring is an art and nursing is truly a caring profession.” Howard Korn, The Ulster BOCES PN program consists of 1,200 hours of clinical and classroom training. Instructional emphasis is placed on nursing skills and scientific principles that are essential to the care of patients in the hospital setting. After graduation from an accredited nursing program and passing the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nursing, the graduate student will function as an integral part of the healthcare team in a variety of client care settings. |
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flickering candlelight, 60 high school and adult students clad in white nursing uniforms assembled at SUNY Ulster. In eager anticipation of entering the world of healthcare, the students were all smiles (and more than one was a bit teary) as they graduated from the Practical Nurse (PN) program of the Ulster BOCES Adult Career Education Center.
and her nephew Deon Wood, enjoyed the PN program. Currently, she works part-time at Eden Park Nursing Home in Poughkeepsie and says she is now ready to move on to full-time nursing. “The Ulster BOCES program is intense,” she reflected. “It’s a very good program with good instructors. I am looking forward to working full-time now in the nursing field.”
director of Career & Technical Education and Adult Services at Ulster BOCES, offered up his congratulations to the future nurses. “Nurses are truly incredibly special people,” remarked Korn. “I am honored to be in your presence, graduates of the Class of 2006. Thank you for choosing this honorable profession.”