February 8, 2002 -- To highlight the heightened role of nurses in today's health care settings, the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University has approved a name change for its School of Health Professions on its Brookville campus. The change -- to the School of Health Professions and Nursing -- reflects the growth of the campus' nursing programs as well as that of the increasingly multifaceted role of nursing in today's health care environment.

In response to the growing demand for qualified health care practitioners who can deliver primary care services, C.W. Post has expanded its nursing program tremendously in recent years. In 1997, it added a new two-track Master of Science degree in Advanced Practice Nursing. The program, open to RN's who hold a bachelor's degree, prepares nurses to become either Clinical Nurse Specialists or Family Nurse Practitioners. In 2001, the department added new dual degree programs which combine a bachelor's and master's degree for RN's interested in Advanced Practice Nursing. The department also offers a Bachelor's degree in Nursing for RN's. All nursing programs are accredited by the National League of Nursing.

According to Dr. Theodora Grauer, dean of the School of Health Professions and Nursing, the new programs are part of C.W. Post's continued commitment to the changing trends within the health care community. "Today's nurses are no longer doctor's assistants," she said. "They're often the first to treat, diagnose and care for a patient and can deliver as much as eighty percent of the health services, and up to ninety percent of the pediatric care provided by primary care physicians, at equal or better quality."
Advanced practice nurses have become increasingly important as the United States faces a documented shortage of nurses and primary care physicians. Reasons for this include the fact that most medical students (75%) are entering specializations other than primary care (defined as family medicine, pediatrics, general internal medicine and gynecology) and the traditionally female-dominated field of nursing is attracting fewer newcomers as women are pursuing other careers.

A Clinical Nurse Specialist is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience who is an expert in a particular field of clinical practice such as cardiology, mental health, gerontology, cancer care, community health, neonatal health, obstetrics, or wound healing. He or she usually practices in a large teaching hospital as a significant member of the interdisciplinary team, working closely with staff nurses, clients and their families. In contrast, a Family Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who can diagnose and manage most common and chronic illnesses independently, and practices in a clinic setting, nursing home, his or her own office, or hospital. In most states (including New York), a Nurse Practitioner has the ability to autonomously prescribe medications while maintaining a collaborative practice agreement with a physician.

The School of Health Professions and Nursing will continue to be home to C.W. Post's highly acclaimed Health Information Management Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Radiologic Technology Program, and Department of Nutrition. For additional information about the School of Health Professions and Nursing call (516) 299-2485 or visit their web site at www.liu.edu/health