A cohort of nurses from Catholic Health are pictured on their first day as students in Niagara University's RN-to-B.S. nursing degree completion program.

Twenty-eight new students commenced studies in Niagara University’s RN-to-B.S. nursing degree completion program on Jan. 16.

Those individuals, all registered nurses, are part of the fifth cohort of students that are enrolled in the program as part of an agreement between Niagara University’s School of Nursing and Catholic Health.

The nurses represent Sisters of Charity Hospital, Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, Mercy Ambulatory Care Center and McAuley Seton Home Care.

A New York state law that went into effect Dec. 31, 2017, requires all nurses to earn a bachelor of science in nursing within 10 years of becoming a registered nurse.

Catholic Health has been among the most proactive healthcare providers in investing in its nurses through sponsorship of their completion of the program at Niagara, according to Dr. Peter Butera, dean of NU’s College of Arts and Sciences

As of May 2017, 124 nurses have graduated from Niagara University’s RN-to-B.S. nursing degree completion program.