ALBANY, NY—Maria College’s 2014 graduation events start this Thursday, May 15 at 3pm with the annual White Tea and nursing pinning ceremony. Approximately 100 AAS nursing graduates will be welcomed into the nursing profession at a candle lighting ceremony and presentation of nursing pins. This traditional Maria Nursing Department ceremony concludes with the graduates reciting, The International Council of Nurses’ Pledge.
The goals of the Maria Associate Degree (AAS) Nursing Program are to educate students for positions in technologically complex health care settings. Maria nursing alumni hold many positions of senior rank at health facilities in the Capital District and throughout the U.S. Last month, Cigna Corporation named Mary Picerno as its new chief nursing officer. Picerno ‘84 holds degrees in nursing and business from Maria College and will lead more than 2,000 Cigna nurses and other health professionals.
Maria College continues to invest in its nursing program. A new nursing simulation lab will be unveiled this fall, when the 2014-15 semesters begin. It will contain a state of the art SIM lab complete with observation/debriefing room, and designed with teaching areas for critical care, surgical patients and newborn/pediatrics. According to President Lea Johnson, “we want to ensure that a Maria education prepares students for the future and builds a strong foundation to make a difference in people’s lives”.
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About Maria College
Maria College is a baccalaureate nonprofit, independent, co-educational institution, founded in 1958 by the Sisters of Mercy, and is one of 17 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Conference for Mercy Higher Education. The College serves traditional and nontraditional students through day, evening, weekend and online classes. A student focused and highly affordable private college in Albany, NY with a 99% placement rate—employment and continuing education.