  |
| |
Union program takes nurses back to school
March 31, 2005 Rene David, standing, teaches a course in the Empire State College program for nurses. Barbara Porcheddu always meant to go back to school to earn her bachelor's degree. But life and family obligations have a way of changing one's plans. "I started to go back to school immediately after graduation from nursing school," Porcheddu said. "But then I got married and had four children." Nearly 30 years later, the idea of being in a classroom with a bunch of teenagers wasn't appealing. Now, thanks to a union/college program, Porcheddu, a school nurse at PS 207 in Queens , will soon earn her Bachelor of Science in community health with the help of her nursing peers. Porcheddu is one of the first graduates of the State University of New York/Empire State College Baccalaureate Program for Nurses in collaboration with the United Federation of Teachers. The future "Nurses are constantly taking classes which give continuing education units. CEUs are good but they don't give you a degree," said B.J. Darby, a New York City nurse and a member of the New York State United Teachers Health Care Professionals Council, led by Anne Goldman. "A degree is the way of the future no matter where you work." Darby, a SUNY/Empire State College alum, negotiated the nursing program with the UFT and the college in 2003. "I've been a single mom and a working mom and I know what it's like," she said. In developing the program Darby, who led the UFT's nurses chapter for 25 years, considered the nurses' hectic schedules — in and out of work. "I had members saying going to school two nights a week is really hard." This semester, nurses take two courses every Tuesday at the UFT's Brooklyn office from 4:30 to 8:15 p.m. The UFT is the NYSUT affiliate in New York City schools. The UFT program is different from many because nurses earn their degrees in community health. "No matter what area of nursing you're working in — visiting nursing, hospital nursing or in schools — we're all dealing with communities," Darby said. The group-learning dynamics are also beneficial. "When we work we are so isolated," said Porcheddu. "It was great to be doing this with my peers." Most students take two courses, eight credits per semester. This spring, the nurses are studying "Chinese medicine, history and culture" and "Spanish for health care providers." "This program opened up my mind to so many different things that have changed," said Karen Fedora, a school nurse at PS 60 in Queens and member of the UFT. Life experience To earn their degrees, nurses must accumulate 128 credits. At Empire State College, life experience counts. Students can come in with credits from accredited schools, tests like the Excelsior nursing examination, and licenses, said Ruth Goldberg, Empire State College's academic mentor for the UFT nurses. "Some nurses have gotten the equivalent of an entire year of college credit for essays they have written about their college-level learning," said Goldberg, a member of Empire State College's chapter of United University Professions (led by Jay Gilbert). UUP is NYSUT's affiliate representing academic faculty and staff at SUNY. "Any learning that is college-level learning can be evaluated for credit," Goldberg said. For Porcheddu, that meant explaining in essays her three decades of experience. "Everything I learned by working in District 75 I would explain. Working in a school-based setting is very different from working in a hospital setting and I wrote up an essay on that as well." In addition to recharging batteries with the latest information on modern medicine and patient care, UFT members receive an increase in pay with their degree. "We have an education differential that gives us another $1,150 for a bachelor's degree," Darby said. For Fodera, the degree was a personal accomplishment. "I've sent two children to school for their degrees. It was the right time for me. I walked away with confidence in myself to achieve anything I put my mind to." "Every advancement a member of the union makes is a benefit to the union," Porcheddu said. The program is open to all NYSUT members. For an application or information on the SUNY/Empire State College baccalaureate program in collaboration with the UFT, call Ruth Goldberg at Empire State College, (646) 230-1247. — Clarisse Butler |
| |
| | ||
