Jefferson’s Ferry Partners with Suffolk Community College LPN Internship Program

S. Setauket, NY…April 6, 2023…

Jefferson’s Ferry, a not-for-profit Life Plan Community, has resumed its LPN internship program with the School of Nursing at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC). The program provides supervised, practical clinical experience for students in SCCC’s Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Program. The students work alongside experienced LPNs in the delivery of care to Jefferson’s Ferry skilled nursing residents under the supervision and direction of Jefferson’s Ferry’s Director of Nursing, Richelle Rugolo, R.N. along with a clinical instructor from SCCC. This program was initially launched in 2019, but was put on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are extremely pleased to once again be able to offer this important internship program to Suffolk County Community College nursing students,” said Bob Caulfield, President and CEO of Jefferson’s Ferry.  “This program offers significant benefits to everyone involved. The students get to work alongside our nurses as they learn about the standard of care we deliver as a five star facility. They get hands on experience and can readily observe the strong relationships that develop amongst residents and caregivers. Our residents certainly enjoy the additional personal attention they receive from the interns as well.”

“It’s gratifying to know that the rotation through Jefferson’s Ferry’s skilled nursing unit is contributing to the development of highly competent and much needed healthcare professionals in our area,” said Jill K Thornton, RN, Academic Chair, Nursing at SCCC. “It’s a testament to the great work our health center team is doing in partnering with a high quality local health care facility like Jefferson’s Ferry.”

The ten-week program fulfills the internship requirement of SCCC’s Fundamentals of Practical Nursing course.  The program focuses on basic comfort and care, health assessment, physiologic adaptation to disease stressors and health promotion and maintenance.  There are two sessions that meet on different days of the week, each session accommodating a group of ten nursing interns. A second ten-week program will welcome another 20 interns in the fall of 2023.

Photo Caption:  Jefferson’s Ferry Life Plan Community’s LPN internship program with the School of Nursing at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) provides supervised, practical clinical experience for students in SCCC’s Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Program.  Flanking five of the current student interns are (l-r) Jefferson’s Ferry’s Kathy Koutouvidis, RN, Assistant Director of Nursing; Richelle Rugolo, RN, Director of Nursing; Lisa Aymong, Professor of Nursing, SCCC LPN Nursing Program; and Anthony Comerford, Vice President Health Services, Jefferson’s Ferry.

About Jefferson’s Ferry  www.jeffersonsferry.org Jefferson’s Ferry is a not-for-profit Life Plan Community for active adults aged 62 and above, with Independent Living cottages and apartments, assisted living apartments, and a quality health care center all on one site.  A multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project, “The Journey Toward Renewal,” is part of a larger strategic initiative launched in 2018 to create a life-enriching environment for all new and current residents at every stage of their life.

Journey to Renewal has added 60 one- and two-bedroom independent living apartments, offers six distinct dining venues, an expanded Healthy Living Center, Fitness Center, and its state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Therapy Center. A new Memory Care building will provide a high quality of life and care for people diagnosed and living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Common areas in Assisted Living and the Health Care Center will be renovated.

Jefferson’s Ferry offers exceptional living and amenities, including indoor pool, computer center, library, recreational areas, gardens, and gazebos.  A mix of cultural excursions, civic activities, and a community of residents who help shape Jefferson’s Ferry’s future ensures a spirited and engaged lifestyle.

The Vincent Bove Health Center at Jefferson’s Ferry enjoys a 5-star rating from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and was named a “Best Of” nursing home by U.S. News & World Report.  Jefferson’s Ferry has repeatedly earned the industrywide Community Choice Award for resident satisfaction and engagement and has been recognized with the Pinnacle Quality Insight’s Customer Experience Award for five years running. FitchRatings has assigned Jefferson’s Ferry a BBB bond rating.  Jefferson’s Ferry has consistently been voted Best Retirement Community, Best Nursing Home and Best Assisted Living on Long Island by The Long Island Press and has been recognized for Excellence by the Hauppauge Industrial Association’s Business Achievement Awards program. For more information visit www.jeffersonsferry.org