CT State Highlights Nursing Program During National Nurse’s Week

Connecticut State Community College (CT State) underscores its dedication to addressing Connecticut’s critical shortage of nurses and preparing more students for health care careers during National Nursing Week, celebrated May 6-12.

“Through strategic partnerships and new programs we are developing, we are dedicated to expanding the capacity of our nursing programs,” said CT State President John Maduko, M.D. “Our aim is to enhance affordability and accessibility, meeting the growing demand for nurses in our communities.”

Among individual institutions, CT State stands out for training the largest number of nursing students in Connecticut, spread across its six campuses offering the credit nursing program. 

Nursing stands as one of the leading programs by completion at CT State, with an annual enrollment exceeding 3,800 students in credit nursing and allied health programs. 

The nursing curriculum at CT State is designed to align with local, regional, and national health care standards and trends. Students gain hands-on learning experiences facilitated by practicing registered nurse faculty in cutting-edge simulation labs and multiple clinical settings, preparing them for diverse health care environments.

Upon completion, graduates can take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), with CT State graduate scores consistently exceeding the national average. Graduates can immediately begin work or seamlessly transfer their credits to a registered nurse bachelor’s degree program at one of many colleges, including several Connecticut state universities, Charter Oak State College, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, and the University of Saint Joseph.

Over the past five years, the college has awarded nearly 3,000 degrees in nursing across its Capital, Gateway, Naugatuck Valley, Northwestern, Norwalk, and Three Rivers campuses. Approximately 90 percent of CT State nursing graduates find employment in Connecticut within two years of graduating, with an average starting salary of $73,352. 

A testament to the success of CT State’s nursing program is Latasha Morrison, 44, of Hamden, who will graduate from CT State Gateway later in May. Despite juggling family responsibilities and a third-shift LPN job, Morrison has already received two job offers and accepted a position at MidState Medical Center. “I decided to pursue the registered nurse degree because I wanted to work in a hospital setting and have the ability to do more with patients,” said Morrison. “I loved the extra help, the lab simulations and the focus on critical thinking and how that can quickly save someone’s life,” she said of her experience at Gateway.

Eric Hoff, 30, of Milford, a CT State Norwalk student and Marine Corps veteran, wants to become a primary mental health nurse practitioner helping veterans with mental health issues. “My favorite part of the program was the clinical aspect,” he said. “While learning the material was intriguing, the most exciting part was putting the information into practice and recognizing what you’re learning in real-time.” Hoff plans to start as an emergency room nurse and pursue a graduate degree in mental health nursing.

CT State collaborates with health care systems such as Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health, UConn Health, Nuvance Health, and the Veterans Health Administration to provide students with comprehensive training and exposure to real-world health care scenarios.

MaryEllen Kosturko, EVP, system chief nursing officer, Hartford HealthCare, emphasized the significance of these partnerships, stating, "Nurses are often called the backbone of the health care system. Through our transformative partnership with CT State Community College, we are developing innovative nursing career pathways - using the Hartford HealthCare Center for Education, Simulation, and Innovation (CESI), to provide hands-on training to secure our future nursing workforce across the state."

CT State welcomes current LPNs to advance their education toward becoming registered nurses. Eligible LPNs must hold a current license to practice in Connecticut, meet all admission requirements, and submit a nursing program application.

Prospective students are encouraged to apply to the selective admission nursing program between Oct. 1 and Feb. 1. Information sessions will be held in person and remotely the following dates and times in May. The six campuses will also offer sessions in the fall. For those who can’t make a session, virtual appointments can be booked with a member of the Selective Admissions team. 

Information sessions:

May 16, 12 p.m. (Gateway)
May 23, 4 p.m. (Three Rivers, Online Webex) 

The nursing program is approved by the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing (CT BOEN) and maintains national accreditation through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

To learn more about CT State Community College and its nursing program, visit ctstate.edu/nursing-health or email ctstate-selectiveadmissions@ct.edu. 

For Immediate Release: 8 May 2024
Contact: Melissa Lamar, Director of Media & Public Relations
W: 860.773.1407 C:  860.836.4351 melissa.lamar@ctstate.edu