Nursing students to protest cuts

Several students about to graduate from the licensed practical nursing program at Norwich Technical High School have organized a demonstration for this morning at the state Capitol to protest the governor's plan to suspend the program until 2012.

The protest is set to begin at 8 a.m., prior to the scheduled General Assembly special session to take up Gov. M. Jodi Rell's proposed budget cuts.

Several students - all of whom will graduate from the post-high school program in January - said Monday they realize the cuts will not affect them. But they said they want the public and state officials to know the value of the low-cost nursing program.

"I absolutely could not have afforded another program," said Carrie Curcuro, 34, of Gales Ferry. "Private LPN schools are $20,000 to $30,000."

Curcuro enrolled in the program for a second career and to fulfill a longtime dream of becoming a nurse. The mother of a special-needs child, she had been working in beverage management. She is pleased that the state program allows her to use her credits toward a registered nurse's degree.

Tuition for the state LPN program, which is more than 20 years old, is $4,850, and there are 375 students currently enrolled at 10 schools statewide. Spokesmen for the governor and for the state Department of Education said the real cost to the state is about $21,000 per student, a heavy state subsidy at a time of budget crisis.

"The governor doesn't want to cut funding for any program, but the state faces a $444 million budget deficit," said Adam Liegeot, a spokesman for Rell.

"The bottom line is that this program isn't paying for itself. Connecticut's taxpayers have been subsidizing it in a big way at $17,150 per student. The state loses money on every student."

Liegeot said if legislators want to save the LPN program, they would face the challenge of making up the $1.7 million in projected savings elsewhere in the state budget.

According to the state Office of Policy and Management, the nursing instructors are being given opportunities to fill vacancies in state agencies that need nurses. OPM also cited labor market reports that suggest the supply of new nurses is adequate to fill Connecticut's need.

Thomas Murphy, spokesman for the state education department, said officials thought it best to cease new enrollment rather than have students face losing the program halfway through their classes next year. If the program is reinstated in 2012 as planned, Murphy said, a tuition increase is likely.

Kirsten Schaeffer, 22, of New London, who helped organize the protest, said she is the third member of her family to enroll. Her mother took the course when she was pregnant with Kirsten and works as a nurse for the Southeastern Mental Health Authority. Her aunt also graduated from the program.

She said students sending e-mails to one another wanted to do something.

Andrea Moore, 25, of Groton said she couldn't attend the protest, so she circulated a petition to submit to the legislature. Moore, who works at Academy Point at Mystic, an assisted-living facility, said many nursing students work at local health care facilities and will ask patients to sign the petition.

"I'm really disappointed they're going to be closing the program," said Jennifer Buchan, 23, of Norwich, who hopes to become a maternity nurse. "It's a really good opportunity for other students who might not get into other programs or can't afford other programs."