Staff Writer

ONEONTA — State Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, unveiled a $100,000 grant Tuesday to help alleviate the nursing shortage.

The $100,000 grant, named after the late Sen. Charles Cook, a Hartwick College graduate, will help fund a nursing education partnership among Hartwick, the State University College of Technology at Delhi and Bassett Healthcare.

"This is designed to alleviate a critical shortage in the nursing profession," Seward said. "This is a nationwide and statewide shortage, and it is certainly affecting us locally."

The state money will help pay for the Partnership for Nursing Possibilities, which allows licensed practical nurses from Delhi Tech to attend Hartwick to study for their bachelor's degree free of charge while working at Bassett.

"Bassett, Hartwick and SUNY-Delhi are simultaneously providing an education, a job and a valued career at essentially no cost to the student," said William Streck, president of Bassett.

Thirty students are enrolled in the program, with room for 15 more next fall, Hartwick President Richard A. Detweiler said.

The grant will provide scholarships for students and fund program costs, officials said at a press conference at Hartwick's Science Building on Tuesday afternoon.

Through the partnership — initiated about a year ago — students attend Delhi Tech, paying tuition, for one year to becomes LPNs.

About midway through the year, students can apply for the next phase of the program, which allows them to become registered nurses and then receive their bachelor's degree in nursing, all tuition free, said Joel Smith, director of college advancement for Delhi Tech.

"It's very competitive," he said. "We only accept 15 students per year."

The students work three 12-hour shifts per week at Bassett while obtaining their degrees.

After completing the program, students must work one year for each full year of tuition received, according to the program brochure.

Hartwick, Delhi and Bassett are holding an information session from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Oneonta Specialty Services on River Street for potential students, hospital officials said.

"It helps out local facilities, but it also helps our local students," said Seward, who is running for re-election unopposed.

A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta has a similar program, where certified nurse's assistants can attend classes tuition free to become registered nurses.

In return, the new nurses must make a five-year commitment to Fox.