Unique Clinical Placements for Aspiring Health Professionals

In August 2022, Russell Sage College and Albany Med Health System announced a creative solution to the staffing challenges healthcare has battled over the past few years. 

The partnership helps Albany Medical Center – the only academic and Level 1 adult and pediatric Trauma Center in the greater Capital Region – recruit new employees and provides growth opportunities for existing employees through continuing education and advanced degrees.  

And the partnership allows Russell Sage College, an institution skilled at developing compassionate, highly trained nurses for more than a century, to offer aspiring health professionals unique clinical placements that prepare them for potential employment within the Albany Med Health System.

“The reason I came to Albany Med was because Sage brought me here. Originally, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, but after completing my clinical assignment at Albany Med, I was hooked. I loved the nurses I worked with, and the whole unit was very welcoming to students.”

Kristina Marie Villajuan, RN

Explore the Multifaceted Partnership

Russell Sage nursing students complete approximately 720 clinical hours throughout their bachelor’s program, which can include up to or more than 500 clinical hours throughout the Albany Med Health System campuses. Students gain knowledge and skills across the medical-surgical, obstetrical, pediatrics, psych, and critical care experiences, including their final clinical capstone practicum. More than 95% of nursing students who complete their final clinical capstone practicum at Albany Medical Center accept a position to work there upon graduation.

Albany Med Professionals in the Classroom
Our partnership provides Albany Med Health System nurses as faculty in our undergraduate nursing program, bringing their clinical expertise to the students. These professionals also oversee clinicals in all of our nursing courses. In addition, Albany Med Health System nurses serve as role models, mentoring and facilitating critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills essential for nursing practice.

Tuition Discounts for Albany Medical Center Employees

30% Tuition Discount

Because Albany Medical Center plays such a critical healthcare role – the region’s only children’s hospital; epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and comprehensive stroke centers; and kidney and pancreas transplant programs all under one roof – staffing the hospital is essential. Education benefits attract, upskill, and help retain employees.

Albany Medical Center employees can receive a 30% tuition discount on these Russell Sage College graduate nursing programs:

Post-master’s certificates in: 

Workforce Development Partnership

In addition, Albany Med Health System employees can participate in our Workforce Development Partnership, which offers a 10% tuition discount and delayed tuition payment in many of our graduate programs, from healthcare to business.

Please note: This is not in addition to the discount offered to Albany Medical Center employees who are eligible for the 30% tuition discount on our graduate nursing programs.

So whether you’re interested in physical or occupational therapy, nutrition, mental health counseling, health services administration, or something else, Russell Sage has a program that will advance your skills, with many offered in convenient formats, including online.

Workforce Partnership

“Our longstanding partnership with Albany Med is critical to our students’ ability to learn in a Level 1 Trauma Center, exposing them to a multitude of nursing career paths and opening up opportunities for employment after graduation.”

Dr. Glenda B. Kelman
Ph.D., RN, ACNP-BC, professor of nursing and nursing department chair at Russell Sage College

Grants

Newly working nurses who graduate from Russell Sage College have the opportunity to apply for the Russell Sage Nursing Career Start-up Grant.

Learn More

Find details about the program on the Russell Sage Nursing Career Start-up Grant page. The first applications for the grant program will open in January 2026.

Explore Grants

Employment Opportunities While Students Are Still in School

Russell Sage students have the opportunity to jump right into the healthcare field as Patient Care Associates (PCAs) at Albany Medical Center, earning money for their education and getting to know the hospital and staff better while they explore the various units and specialties.

PCAs work under the direction of a Registered Nurse and collect patient data, complete personal care of the patient, perform point-of-care testing, turn and position and/or mobilize patients, and assist with caring for the needs of assigned patients with a focus on progress toward discharge, including during transitions within the acute care stay. 

They are trained to perform technical procedures, such as blood draw and electrocardiography, and they collaborate with Materials Coordinators for the use, stocking, and storage of supplies.

Hourly wages range from $19 to $23 an hour.

Explore Employment
Nursing Students

“At Albany Med, our number one priority is our patients. Our partnership with Russell Sage College is not only a pipeline to welcome new, talented nurses into our workforce, but an incredible opportunity for our current employees to grow in their careers – all with the goal of providing our patients in our communities with the most advanced care in the region.”

Kevin Zeng
MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Albany Medical Center

Creating a Diverse Nursing Pipeline to Improve Quality of Care

Russell Sage College is the educational home of the I Can Achieve a Nursing Degree (ICAN) program, and Albany Med Health System is a proud partner.

  • A collaborative community mentorship model for underserved youth to achieve a bachelor’s degree in nursing and employment as a professional Registered Nurse (RN). 
  • Students in grades 10 through 12 are paired with a diverse group of nursing mentors, who inspire and encourage students throughout the program.
  • Offering learning opportunities in both academic and clinical settings, these efforts will prompt more students to pursue professional nursing degrees and build a more diverse community of healthcare professionals – improving the quality of care across the spectrum.
Explore ICAN

“I was very comfortable at Sage undergrad, and I had a lot of support from my professors, who I built close relationships with. It helped with the confidence I had as I was entering the nursing profession, and it gave me a sense of comfort and familiarity.”

Rachel Treers, RN
Completed her senior capstone on the medical/surgical intensive care unit at Albany Medical Center and was offered a job before graduation. She is currently enrolled in the M.S. in Nursing program at Russell Sage.

Are you an employee of Albany Medical Center who is interested in enrolling in a graduate nursing program at Russell Sage?

Reach out to [email protected] to learn more about the benefits of our special partnership.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact:

Kate Proctor
[email protected]
518-244-2229

Note: Enrollment in Russell Sage College’s nursing program does not guarantee any student a clinical assignment at Albany Med Health System (AMHS) and does not guarantee any graduate employment at (AMHS), or the availability of the Russell Sage Nursing Career Start-up Grant.