Nearly 100 adults were matched with potential employers on May 20 during a Capital Region BOCES Health Careers Jobs Fair for students in the adult Practical Nursing Program.

Healthcare providers from across the industry recruited students as they sought to counteract the impacts of the national nursing shortage. Employers on hand ranged from Albany Medical Center and Ellis Medicine to Community Care Community Care Physicians and even WellNow Urgent Care.

“We are always incredibly impressed with this job fair and your graduates. BOCES sets a high standard and it shows,” said Olivia Fagan of Whitney M Young Jr Health Center.

Marcus Massaconi, Nurse Supervisor at Community Home Health Care, echoed those sentiments.

“The students all have a good idea of what they want and are interested and sincere,” he said.

That difficulty to hire and maintain good nurses was shared by more traditional healthcare industry employers. For students, that meant plenty of opportunities.

“I talked to a lot of people and I am being pulled in so many different directions. It’s great to have options,” said Shanita Fonder, a Troy resident who attends BOCES.

Classmate Ashley Verasammy said the event opened many doors for her.

“It’s wonderful, very helpful, I’ve learned a lot about many places and have places I will apply to,” the Schenectady resident said.

Louise Bigando, Director of Health Careers and Services at Capital Region BOCES, thanked the institutions for relying on BOCES to help them address the national epidemic that is the healthcare worker shortage.

“This has been a great opportunity for students to get their name out there and find the right job for them and an equally great opportunity for employers to find well-trained workers ready to be hired,” she said.

Bigando added that the job fair is an integral part of the BOCES experience for students.

“It’s all part of the BOCES model – educate, graduate, employ,” she said.