Hospital Officials Celebrate Program’s Success
In Addressing Severe Nursing Shortage

White Plains, NY (August 2011)— Twenty-two local high school and college students today graduated from White Plains Hospital’s unique Richard P. Biondi Nurse Apprentice Program during a ceremony that celebrated the program’s success. The students were recognized for completing an intensive, seven-week nurse apprenticeship at the Hospital during the summer.

Hospital officials announced proudly at the ceremony that by the end of 2011, 32 of the 69 students who have gone through the program will be full-time nurses at White Plains Hospital. This program was created six years ago to address the nursing shortage in the face of an aging population.

Jon B. Schandler, Hospital President and CEO, said:  “The Richard P. Biondi Nurse Apprentice Program creates a meaningful experience that has turned into a true career path for these young people. With the job market unstable and the nursing shortage increasing, we are pleased to have created a program that shepherds people through this process that, for many of our students, results in a fulfilling and lasting job. I congratulate this year’s graduates and will enjoy seeing some of them on our staff.”

This year’s apprentices are:
 

• Kimberly Arcilla, Yonkers,NY  ,College of Mt. St. Vincent

• Camille Bailey, Pelham, NY  ,Pace University

• Lauren Brancucci,,Dobbs Ferry, NY, College of New Rochelle

• Fanette Ceus, Elmsford, NY, Maria Regina HS

• Samantha Deluca, Elmsford, NY,College of Mt. St. Vincent

• Marina DiMattia, Yorktown Heights, NY Salisbury University, Md.

• Nicholas Forlini, Yonkers, NY College of Mt. St. Vincent

• Lakeisha Hall, White Plains,NY Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus

• Nisha Kurian, White Plains, NY, NY Institute of Technology

• Casey Lorusso, Ridgefield, Ct. Scranton University

• Laura Lynch, Pallisades, NY, Dominican College

• Tamika Lumsden, New Windsor, NY PACE University

• Carly Macken, North White Plains, NY, SUNY Plattsburgh

• Kelly Mendello, Peekskill, NY, LIU, Brooklyn Campus

• Alex Rivera, White Plains, NY , College of New Rochelle

• Angelica Rivera, White Plains, NY, New York University

• Marisa Rosario, White Plains, NY, College of Mt. St. Vincent

• Sasha Gay Scott, Jamaica, NY, PACE University

• Taryn Spiegel, Rye Brook, NY , College of Charleston

• Nicole Strauss, Bronx, NY, SUNY Buffalo

• Denise Sullivan, Pelham, NY, Westchester Community College

• Lily Wells, Rye, NY, Michigan University

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. The students also receive instruction from members of the nursing staff on different topics such as patient safety, infection control, and general patient care.

Named after the late Richard P. Biondi who was a Senior Vice President of White Plains Hospital and was instrumental in leading fundraising initiatives on its behalf, the nurse apprentice program is coordinated by Annie Norris, M.S. and Monica Purdy, M.A., R.N., who direct the community outreach program at local schools and screen, select, evaluate and oversee the apprentices. It was initially made possible by a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, and program funding from White Plains Hospital.  Representative Nita M. Lowey (D-NY18) was instrumental in securing the federal grant.


Above: WPH's 2011 Nurse Apprentice Graduates.