The Decker School of Nursing: 35 years in the forefront of nursing education

"I remember and appreciate my education at Binghamton for many reasons," said Dr. Connie Bareford '71, professor of nursing at William Paterson University in New Jersey and a member of the first graduating class from the Decker School of Nursing. "The academic program was excellent. I have felt well-prepared for all my future endeavors, both academically and professionally, because of this education. I also remember fondly the friendships with fellow students and the mentoring of the faculty. I was part of a community of learning at Binghamton University and I cherish this memory," she added.

This year, the Decker School of Nursing celebrates 35 years of being at the forefront of nursing education with a host of celebrations and special events.

"We're rounding up as many of our 5,000 alumni, former deans and past faculty members as we can for celebration events throughout the year, beginning with our reception during Homecoming Weekend," said Decker School of Nursing Dean Sarah Gueldner. "It'll be especially gratifying to see members of our first faculty and first graduating class return to Binghamton."

Educating generations of nurses
It was the late 1960s and college-educated nurses were in short supply. To meet this need, the State University of New York at Binghamton established the Nursing School (which would later become the Decker School of Nursing) in 1969. It was the University's first professional school.

Today, Binghamton University graduates more baccalaureate nurses than any school in the state except Columbia University. And, they enter the profession with strong academic and clinical preparation. In fact, Decker School graduates taking their licensing examination following completion of their bachelor's degree have a 91 percent success rate on their first try. "This is well above the state and national averages," explained Dean Gueldner.

The Decker School also offers graduate programs that prepare students to serve as clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse administrators or nurse educators. A doctoral program that focuses on health issues in rural populations is also available. Established in 1999, this program was the first nursing degree program in the nation to focus on rural nursing and healthcare needs.

However, the school's most popular program is its Baccalaureate Accelerated Track (BAT) Program, designed for students who have earned a bachelor's or higher degree in another field and who are interested in entering nursing. The BAT program was started more than a decade ago, but until recently, enrollment in the program was in the single digits. But that number has dramatically increased over the past three years, and the school graduated 26 students in the class of 2003 and 40 in 2004. Given current enrollment, the class of 2005 will be the largest ever, with more than 70 students.

Dean Gueldner explained that nursing enrollment throughout the nation has increased following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. "The tragic events of 9/11 made people stop and think about whether they were doing something meaningful with their life," she said. "It was a time of tremendous soul-searching, with people looking for something to help them make a difference. Nursing makes a difference."

Affiliations with nearly 400 hospitals, organizations and agencies located in the region and around the world offer students many opportunities to gain valuable clinical experience and prepare them to make a difference.

"My graduate education at Binghamton University literally opened the doors of the world to me," said Fred Farley, PhD '03, vice president and chief operating officer at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira and one of the first graduates of the school's PhD program. "Through collaborative efforts between the Decker School of Nursing and organized nursing in the Czech Republic, I was able to make contacts that enhanced the quality of my education and facilitated the completion of my dissertation. I have continued those relationships and have visited the Czech Republic, where I have lectured to nurses and other healthcare leaders. My daughter will be attending Decker as a BAT nursing student this fall. I know she will receive a quality nursing education and outstanding clinical experiences."

Gifts, endowments, grants and scholarships from numerous supporters have helped the school improve programs and extend assistance to students facing financial hardship. In 1979, the Decker Foundation awarded a $1 million grant to the Nursing School, which was then renamed the Dr. G. Clifford and Florence B. Decker School of Nursing in honor of this gift.

Looking to the future
While those who know the Decker School of Nursing think exceptionally well of the school and its graduates, "we are not yet as nationally known as we want to be," explained Dean Gueldner. "In our next 35 years, we want to further extend our prominence and let people know about the high caliber programs we offer."

Another area Gueldner intends to focus on is research. In fact, that is the reason she chose to join the Decker School as its fifth dean in March 2003. "I came to Binghamton University to increase the school's research mission. It is my goal to help the school gain a national presence as a research facility. Research is essential to a healthier future. Through research we can do more than just take care of disease; in some instances we can prevent it."

Faculty and graduate students throughout the Decker School of Nursing are working on a variety of research projects that focus on women's health, including hypertension, early stroke recognition, smoking cessation during pregnancy, osteoporosis, depression, asthma, intimate partner violence, addictions and more. Collaborative studies on bone health, diabetes and lower body circulation have also been initiated with Dr. Ken McLeod, chair of the University's Department of Bioengineering. According to Dean Gueldner, the school is on the brink of securing its first federal research grant.

-- Natalie Blando-George