NAUGATUCK, Conn. — Just under a year ago, hundreds of nursing students studying at Stone Academy were stopped in their tracks, as the school suddenly closed the doors of its three campuses.
Now, Griffin Health has opened a new School of Allied Health Careers building in Naugatuck to help some of those students finish their clinical studies.
On Thursday, hospital leaders came together for the grand opening at 1186 New Haven Rd. in Naugatuck.
“I always wanted to be a nurse, since I was young,” said Anna Jarjura, one of LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) students now learning at the new location.
Jarjura started attending Stone Academy in 2020. At first, she said everything seemed normal. Soon, she learned it was not.
“Definitely after 2021 is when you saw things were not going right. Especially with the clinical, that was the biggest (thing). We were not getting any clinical, whatsoever,” Jarjura said.
Jarjura was just a month away from graduating in 2023 when she got an email saying her evening class was canceled on Valentine’s Day. Shortly after, she got another email, announcing the closure of the entire school.
“I didn’t know what to do, I put so much time and effort into the program,” Jarjura said.
Hundreds of others were in the same boat, with many choosing to give up on their path to becoming an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). Soon, some started hearing from leaders at Griffin Health.
“I think it was natural that we started this hospital-based LPN program, the only one in the state, and then this need came about,” said Patrick Charmel, President and CEO of Griffin Health.
For the last year, Charmel and his team at Griffin Health have been working with the state’s Office of Higher Education to help the Stone students.
In no time, the idea to open a new building to meet the needs of the students and others looking to get into the healthcare field was born.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling that we’re finally here, and we can actually take care of these students and provide them the education that they deserve and that they need to be compassionate caregivers,” said Dr. Amanda Bell, Executive Dean of the School of Allied Health at Griffin Hospital.
Right now, just over 20 students are using the new building in Naugatuck to complete the 14-month LPN program. Many of them are transfer students from Stone Academy. The students will get a detailed education with half classwork, and half clinical work. The clinics will involve hands-on care with patients at Griffin Hospital and Masonicare.
Inside the building on New Haven, is also state-of-the-art equipment with simulators, so students can respond to “patient issues” in real-time.
For Jarjua, it’s confirmation that she never got the education she needed. However, now she feels confident in her new school.
“I know I’ll be more than okay. I know I’ll be ready,” Jarjura said. “As much as I didn’t want to continue on, I am grateful I did because I want to do this and I put all that work in. And I’m just going to let it go? No,” Jarjura said.
There is another cohort of students, who were nearly finished with their education at Stone Academy and simply need to complete their clinicals. Griffin Health recently reached an agreement with OHE, which will provide the funding for nearly 140 people in that group to complete a 10-month “Teach-Out” program.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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