Mount Nursing News
Welcome to Mount Nursing News
The Mount's Nursing Newsletter is intended to share updates on Mount Nursing students, alumni, and faculty through each issue. We are excited to keep you up-to-date on the important work and accomplishments happening within our community of nurses.
Please use the navigation below to read the most current issue of the Nursing Newsletter. Thank you for your interest in the School of Nursing!
Alumni Interview | Nursing Open House | Nursing Camp | Simulation | SON Featured in Film | NWD
November: The Month of Gratitude
Recognition and appreciation are important parts of life and communicate our gratefulness for others.
The School of Nursing is offering the opportunity for students, faculty and staff to recognize others by declaring that November is the Month of Gratitude. Signs announcing this initiative – random acts of kindness and inspiration – are displayed on the bulletin board near the entrance to the School of Nursing. Forms to nominate someone for acknowledgement are located nearby. We anticipate recognition of individuals both from within the Mount and beyond, and look forward to publishing the results in early December.
Alumni Interview: Thomas Powell’s Path from Student to Professor
wanted his life to take when he started as a student here at the Mount in 2001. He was undeclared and taking anatomy and physiology, but by the time he graduated from the Mount in 2006, that direction had become crystal clear: When he walked the Mount’s Commencement stage, it was with a BSN degree. While he was a student, he began working at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in the post-cardiac care telemetry unit. Since Tom had previously worked there as a tech, he felt supported as a new graduate nurse and learned a great deal about cardiac care.
While he knew the general trajectory of his career now, his work at Vassar Brothers helped him to further develop his professional passions. Seeing extremely ill patients in critical care influenced him to pursue a career in the field, and he transferred to the cardiothoracic ICU after several years on the telemetry unit. Tom found the CT ICU very rewarding, caring for high-acuity patients who came in for correctible procedures. The great community of supportive and dedicated nurses at Vassar Brothers continued their great work and influence on him, and he enjoyed seeing the rapid progression of patients through the post-surgical process.
Tom worked the night shift there for four years, and decided in 2012 that it was time for a change. He transferred to the day shift on the Medical ICU where he found that nothing was routine and there was a great variety of diagnoses in the extremely complex patients. That suited him well, he notes: Tom likes having high stakes in what he is doing and enjoyed the increased responsibility.
Tom returned to his alma mater in 2014, when he became a clinical instructor in the Mount’s School of Nursing. He brought his students to the unit where he had worked since graduating, and found that his familiarity with the Medical ICU was invaluable in supporting their growth as nurses, as well as helping the future nurses to foster a strong relationship with the ICU staff. At the same time, Tom was also a student again, this time in the Mount’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, and he received his MSN in 2018. While in the FNP program, Tom had great clinical experiences with his own primary care physician and with the hospitalist services at Vassar. As an NP, Tom now works with medical residents, performs complex procedures in the ICU, and responds to emergencies throughout the hospital.
With his updated credentials and experience in-hand, Tom became a full-time professor at the Mount just this September and teaches in the undergraduate and graduate programs. And if that isn’t enough, he still works as an NP in the Medical ICU at Vassar! That’s because Tom wants to stay engaged in clinical practice, since it’s an invaluable enhancement to his teaching. His days have been busy, but it’s all been worth it, he says. For example, he has given lectures to non-traditional students using case studies of patients he has actually cared for, coming full circle from his Vassar days.
When asked about his experiences at the Mount, Tom was excited to acknowledge several professors who had a profound impact on his career in nursing: Drs. Tom Sarro, Dianne Murphy, Andrea Ackermann, and Linda LaRocco.
Tom has some simple, but poignant advice for young students considering nursing as a career. Thinking back to the days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he recalled that there were some workers who were considered “essential,” while others were considered “non-essential.” If you want to be the best professional you can be and get the most out of your working hours, there’s only one choice, said Tom: Be essential!
School of Nursing Hosts First Nursing Open House
The School of Nursing welcomed 25 prospective students and their families to its inaugural Nursing
Open House on November 8, 2025, opening the doors to the next generation of Mount Saint Mary College nurses.
The event kicked off with an overview from the Admissions Team before transitioning into a spirited luncheon with the Dean, Department Chair, and faculty. It wasn't just a meet-and-greet: Guests enjoyed a lively trivia game and the chance to win prizes while breaking bread with the department's leadership.
Later in the Aquinas Theater, the conversation deepened with a question and answer session covering the full scope of the program. A highlight was the representative from the Student Nurses’ Association, who offered a candid look at student life and the real-world experience of learning at the Mount.
From there, the group stepped into the shoes of a nursing student during tours of the state-of-the-art skills and simulation labs. The advanced technology and hands-on opportunities left a clear impression on the visiting families, with faculty remaining on hand afterward to offer personal guidance.
Overall, the debut event offered these future nurses a genuine glimpse into the supportive, innovative community that defines the School of Nursing.
Summer Nursing Camp Inspires the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals
This summer, Mount Saint Mary College’s School of Nursing welcomed 40 high school students from
across the region to its inaugural Summer Nursing Exploration Camp, a weeklong program for two cohorts of students, designed to introduce them to the world of nursing and healthcare.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in a variety of hands-on activities — from practicing basic clinical skills in the nursing simulation labs to learning about patient care, medical technology, and the many career paths within the nursing profession. Students also had the opportunity to meet current nursing majors, alumni RNs, and faculty, gaining valuable insight into what it takes to succeed in nursing school.
The students also had the opportunity for several certification courses, such as Basic Life Support (BLS) and training in the use of Narcan, an anti-overdose medication. Many shared that the overall experience strengthened their desire to pursue nursing and that they looked forward to making a difference in their communities.
The camp concluded with a recognition ceremony, where participants received certificates of completion and celebrated their accomplishments with family and friends. Plans are already underway for next summer’s program, which promises more engaging activities and learning opportunities.
Virtual Reality, Real Results: Simulation Program Aids Mount Nursing Students
Over the past year, the Mount Saint Mary College School of Nursing has made remarkable strides in
strengthening experiential learning and innovation within its Simulation Program. These enhancements have significantly advanced the college’s commitment to preparing future nurses with the critical thinking, technical skill, and clinical judgment essential for modern practice.
This year marked the introduction of virtual reality (VR) simulation across both undergraduate and graduate programs. Through immersive VR learning, students can now engage in complex patient care scenarios that replicate real-world challenges, enhancing confidence, communication, and decision-making in safe, interactive environments.
The School of Nursing also invested in a new high-fidelity manikin, ensuring that each nursing skills laboratory now houses a high-fidelity simulator. This milestone allows for greater student access to simulation. The integration of AI-based virtual patients has also added a dynamic new element to simulations, allowing students to simulate patient admissions and assessments.
These academic and technological advancements were made possible, in part, by the success of the annual “Go Blue for MSMC” fundraiser, which earned more than $8,000 to support simulation education.
As the Simulation Program continues to evolve, Mount Saint Mary College remains committed to providing cutting-edge educational experiences that prepare graduates to lead with competence, compassion, and innovation in the field of nursing.
Mount’s School of Nursing Featured in Major Film Productions
Mount Saint Mary College’s School of Nursing recently opened its simulation laboratories to film crews
for two major television productions: the upcoming Fox series Good Medicine and season three of Netflix’s Four Seasons.
The collaboration provided an exciting opportunity for the Nursing faculty and students to support accurate healthcare representation in popular media. This unique project was the result of a cross-departmental partnership with the college’s Communication, Art, and Digital Media (CADM) program. Students and faculty from CADM worked alongside production teams, gaining firsthand experience in film production, creative direction, and the intersection of healthcare and the arts.
The experience showcased Mount Saint Mary College’s commitment to experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together academics, artistry, and the authentic spirit of nursing education.
NWD Program Continues to Support Seniors, Build Community
Although the Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Program officially concluded in June, its mission
continues this fall as it supports its final cohort of 11 senior nursing students. The program provides a comprehensive support system, including tuition assistance and specialized academic tutoring for senior-level courses, led by Mount adjunct instructors over Zoom.
This support extends directly into the community. Through a collaboration with the Desmond Center, students are already putting their skills to use. At the center’s Legal Clinic in October, they provided mental health resources to clients and highlighted the importance of stress management. In November, they will facilitate a “Support System for Caregivers” workshop, offering practical self-care techniques and connecting caregivers with community resources.
To bridge the gap between school and career, the NWD has also partnered with the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA). The groups have co-sponsored a presentation on critical thinking in acute care and are planning a “Nursing Q&A Panel” for December. This final event will allow students to ask experienced nurses for their advice on transitioning from the classroom to professional practice.