St. John’s University in New York plans to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing when in-person classes recommence this fall. The proposed program, currently awaiting approval of the New York State Education Department, will be under the school’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS).
St. John’s explained in a press release that the global demand for nurses is expected to increase due to an aging population and growth in the number of patients with persistent medical conditions.
“Our obligation and commitment to service lie not only in our active compassion as an institution, but in the cultivation of skilled service professionals in high-demand professions like nursing,” St. John’s President Brian J. Shanley said.
“We must act now to meet the projected demand for increased nursing services, including the need for more nursing professionals, nurse faculty, researchers, and primary care providers,” CPHS Dean Russell J. DiGate also remarked.
St. John’s Investing in Health Sciences
In March, the university revealed plans for the development of a new Health Sciences Center which is expected to provide state-of-the-art technology and flexible room layouts for a variety of instructional needs.
Construction of the new center is estimated to cost $78 million and will be open for classes in 2024.
“The University’s new Health Sciences Center will enable St. John’s to train the next generation of caregivers at a time of tremendous change and opportunity in health care,” Shanley explained.
Nursing Education History at St. John’s
In 1937, St. John’s University established a department that catered the needs of aspiring nurses. The department became a separate college a few years later.
Before it became a department again, St. John’s School of Nursing Education helped train nurses and medical practitioners during World War II. However, the program was discontinued in 1966.
