Assistant Professor of Nursing
Course Coordinator, Mental Health Nursing
Degrees
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Regis College
Master of Science in Nursing, Columbia University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, William Patterson College
Office: Aquinas Hall 210-J
Office Hours: Monday 10-11 am
Phone: 845-561-3145
Email: jill.sussman@msmc.edu
Courses, Spring 2013
Mental Health Nursing
RN/BSN Hybrid Course
Bio
Professor Sussman is a clinical nurse specialist in adult
psychiatric nursing. She received a master’s degree from Columbia
University and holds a doctorate of nursing practice from Regis
College in Weston, MA.
Jill has have been a registered nurse for 35 years, working in
mental health for 25 years. She has practiced in acute inpatient
psychiatry, private practice, holds a certification as a legal
nurse consultant and paralegal, and is a local critical incident
stress debriefer for ambulance, police, and fire departments.
Mount Saint Mary College has been her home for the last 4 years,
teaching mental health nursing. Previous to that, Jill was employed
by Four Winds Hospital in Katonah, New York, for many years as a
nurse psychotherapist. She has also worked as an adjunct in Mental
and Community Health at both Pace University and the Mount.
Professor Sussman finds the RN to BSN courses informative and
fun to teach. Mental health disorders are complex, so this course
requires participants open up to the creative process and critical
thinking necessary in dealing with those persons who struggle with
mental illness.
Dr. Sussman’s doctoral research was a qualitative study
evaluating student nurses perceptions of the mental health clinical
experience.
Clinical practice
Professor Sussman has been a quest speaker for graduating
traditional nursing class of 2010, 2011, and 2012 pinning
ceremonies. She continues to maintain a small private practice and
offer Critical Incident Debriefing services.
Professional affiliations
- Member of New York Nurses Association
- Member of American Psychiatric nurses Association
- Member Sigma Theta Tau
- New York State elected Surrogate Decision panel member