White Plains, NY (August 13, 2010) - On August 6th, 2010, 22 local high school and college students completed an intensive, seven-week nurse apprenticeship at White Plains Hospital. The Richard P. Biondi Nurse Apprentice Program was launched in 2006 to address the national shortage of nurses. Today, there are several former apprentices who are studying for their bachelor’s degrees in nursing as well as students who have graduated and are now working as RNs in the Hospital. By the end of 2010, White Plains Hospital expects to have 20 nursing students who have either completed the nurse apprentice or nurse associates program working in the hospital—precisely the goal from the outset of the program.

During the rigorous full time, five days per week schedule, the apprentices experienced working in clinical areas in the Hospital including pediatrics, emergency department, endoscopy, post-anesthesia care unit, ICU step-down, labor and delivery, maternal-child, medical-surgical, oncology and neonatal intensive care. They are also asked to perform a number of supervised tasks such as answering call bells, taking vital signs, assisting patients with meals, assisting nurses as needed and sitting with patients, reading to them and keeping them company.