Adelphi University School of Nursing

Dr. Montag's Educational Background

· 1930 A.B. Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, History Major
· 1933 B.S. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nursing Major
· 1938 M.A., Columbia University, Teachers College, New York, Nursing Education-Teaching
· 1950 Ed.D., Columbia University, Teachers College, New York, Nursing Education-Curriculum
· Dr. Montag was the author of many publications and the recipient of many awards.

Dr. Montag at Adelphi College

Dr. Mildred Montag was the founder and Director of Adelphi College's School of Nursing, Garden City New York, from 1942 until 1948. In 1942, Dr. Montag was asked by Adelphi College (under a grant from the U.S. Public Health Service) to do a survey of local hospitals to see if they would cooperate in establishing a school of nursing at Adelphi College. In January, 1943, Dr. Montag became the school's first director, and shortly thereafter, the first 25 students were admitted under the Nurse Training Act of 1943 - known as the Bolton Act - and participated in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps as of June 1943. Subsequently, students admitted to the Department of Nursing were eligible to join the Cadet Nurse Corps, and most did! The school grew under Dr. Montag's leadership, and over 500 students were graduated during the time she served as Director. Dr. Montag was responsible for the fact that the nursing program was an integral part of Adelphi College. In 1948 Dr. Montag left Adelphi College to complete her doctoral studies at Teachers College. Her doctoral dissertation "The Education of Nursing Technicians" was to profoundly influence the course of nursing education here in the United States and ultimately throughout the world, through its impact on community college education for nursing.

Initiating ADN Education
Associate degree education for nursing began as part of an experimental project at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, by Mildred Montag. During the 1950s, Mildred Montag, as part of her doctoral dissertation, proposed educating a technical nurse to assist the professional nurse (which she envisioned as prepared at the baccalaureate level) in two years.

Background Facts
The development of ADN education had its inception in 1952, as the result of the research project conducted by Mildred Montag. The project sought to (1) alleviate a critical shortage of nurses by decreasing the length of the education process to two years and (2) provide a sound educational base for nursing instruction by placing the program in community/junior colleges. In 1958, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation funded the implementation of the project at seven pilot sites in four states (Haase, 1990).

Program Successes
The success of this radically new approach to educating registered nurses was phenomenal. The number of ADN programs escalated from seven in 1958 to 868 in 1994 (National League for Nursing, 1996). Reasonable cost and proximity of ADN programs to the community enhances access for adult learners, males, married students, and minority populations. ADN education is cost effective and accessible to diverse populations. Most ADN programs are located in community/junior/technical colleges. ADN programs prepared the largest number of new graduates for RN licensure. In 1995, 58,749 (61%) nursing graduates out of a total of 97,052 were from ADN programs (National League for Nursing, 1996). Furthermore, ADN programs have a high rate of success on the first attempt to pass the NCLEX-RN. National pass rates for the three types of nursing programs for 1996 97 are indicated below (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 1996 1997):

ADN 88%
Diploma 90%
Baccalaureate 85%

Of the 2.5 million RN population in 1996, over 66% are ADN graduates (NLN, 1996). According to a National League for Nursing (NLN) Report, 1994 ADN graduates functioned in a variety of settings with 22% working outside the hospital (NLN, 1996). ADN graduates possess many of the competencies needed by registered professional nurses.

ADN Advances
NLN's Vision for Nursing Education promoted inclusion of community learning experiences by all levels of nursing education. Associate degree educators rapidly identified the needs in their communities and offered learning experiences with individuals and families in community settings (Mueller, 1995). Although Dr. Montag never envisioned the nurse with the associate degree building on the education to obtain a baccalaureate or higher degree, in 1965 the ANA voted to propose the entry level of a baccalaureate degree for entrance to professional nursing practice. At various times, other nursing leaders have suggested the nursing doctorate as the entry level. The ANA resolution has been made law in only two states at this time. The Community College-Nursing Home Partnership Project funded by W.K. Kellogg was initiated to enhance the preparation of ADN graduates for work with an increasing elderly population, as well as to manage and delegate to unlicensed personnel (Sherman, 1993).

June 2000
Dr. Montag remained actively involved in the life of Adelphi University (formerly Adelphi College) during her lifetime. At a presentation at the June 2000 Homecoming for the Class of 1930 at the Ruth S. Harley University Center, the invitation read "Please join the members of the first graduating class from Adelphi's Garden City Campus as we remember the days of yore with Dean Emerita Ruth S. Harley '24 and Dr. Mildred Montag, Director Emerita, School of Nursing." In 2003 she was honored at the 60th anniversary of the Adelphi University School of Nursing and was made the first member of the School of Nursing Hall of Fame. The medal awarded to each subsequent person honored by being appointed to the Hall of Fame will bear her image.

Additional Readings

American Association of Community Colleges. (1996). National Profile Community College: Trends and Statistics 1996. Annapolis Junction, MD: Community College Press.
Haase, Patricia T. (1990). The Origins and Rise of Associate Degree Nursing Education. Durham and London: Duke University Press.
Louden, D., Crawford, L., and Trotman, S. (1996). Profiles of the Newly Licensed Nurse. Publication No. 19-2700. New York, NY: NLN Press.
Mueller, A., Johnston, M., & Bopp. A. (1995). Changing associate degree nursing curricula to meet evolving healthcare delivery system needs. Nurse Educator, 20(6), 23.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (1996–97). Quarterly Reports, July 1996–June 1997. New Jersey: The Chauncy Group.
National League for Nursing. (1996). Nursing Data Review, 1996. Publication No. 19-685. New York: NLN, Center for Research in Nursing Education and Community Health.
National League for Nursing. (1996). Nursing Data Source 1996. Volume I: Trends in Contemporary Nursing Education. Publication No. 19-6932. New York, NY: NLN Press.
National League for Nursing. (1990). Vision for Nursing Education. New York, NY: NLN Press.
Sherman, Susan E. (1993). The community college-nursing home partnership. In C. Heine (Ed.), Determining the Future of Gerontological Nursing Education, pp.37–40. New York: National League for Nursing Press. Adopted 1/31/98 http://www.noadn.org/


		Mildred Montag
	Dean's Message Undergraduate Info Graduate Info Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (Continuing Education) Faculty Student Nurses Association (SNAP) Resource Links Our Founder Contact Us Sigma Theta Tau	Founder and Director of Adelphi College School of Nursing 1909 - 2004 Dr. Montag's Educational Background · 1930 A.B. Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, History Major · 1933 B.S. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nursing Major · 1938 M.A., Columbia University, Teachers College, New York, Nursing Education-Teaching · 1950 Ed.D., Columbia University, Teachers College, New York, Nursing Education-Curriculum · Dr. Montag was the author of many publications and the recipient of many awards. Dr. Montag at Adelphi College Dr. Mildred Montag was the founder and Director of Adelphi College's School of Nursing, Garden City New York, from 1942 until 1948. In 1942, Dr. Montag was asked by Adelphi College (under a grant from the U.S. Public Health Service) to do a survey of local hospitals to see if they would cooperate in establishing a school of nursing at Adelphi College. In January, 1943, Dr. Montag became the school's first director, and shortly thereafter, the first 25 students were admitted under the Nurse Training Act of 1943 - known as the Bolton Act - and participated in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps as of June 1943. Subsequently, students admitted to the Department of Nursing were eligible to join the Cadet Nurse Corps, and most did! The school grew under Dr. Montag's leadership, and over 500 students were graduated during the time she served as Director. Dr. Montag was responsible for the fact that the nursing program was an integral part of Adelphi College. In 1948 Dr. Montag left Adelphi College to complete her doctoral studies at Teachers College. Her doctoral dissertation "The Education of Nursing Technicians" was to profoundly influence the course of nursing education here in the United States and ultimately throughout the world, through its impact on community college education for nursing. Initiating ADN Education Associate degree education for nursing began as part of an experimental project at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, by Mildred Montag. During the 1950s, Mildred Montag, as part of her doctoral dissertation, proposed educating a technical nurse to assist the professional nurse (which she envisioned as prepared at the baccalaureate level) in two years. Background Facts The development of ADN education had its inception in 1952, as the result of the research project conducted by Mildred Montag. The project sought to (1) alleviate a critical shortage of nurses by decreasing the length of the education process to two years and (2) provide a sound educational base for nursing instruction by placing the program in community/junior colleges. In 1958, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation funded the implementation of the project at seven pilot sites in four states (Haase, 1990). Program Successes The success of this radically new approach to educating registered nurses was phenomenal. The number of ADN programs escalated from seven in 1958 to 868 in 1994 (National League for Nursing, 1996). Reasonable cost and proximity of ADN programs to the community enhances access for adult learners, males, married students, and minority populations. ADN education is cost effective and accessible to diverse populations. Most ADN programs are located in community/junior/technical colleges. ADN programs prepared the largest number of new graduates for RN licensure. In 1995, 58,749 (61%) nursing graduates out of a total of 97,052 were from ADN programs (National League for Nursing, 1996). Furthermore, ADN programs have a high rate of success on the first attempt to pass the NCLEX-RN. National pass rates for the three types of nursing programs for 1996 97 are indicated below (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 1996 1997): ADN 88% Diploma 90% Baccalaureate 85% Of the 2.5 million RN population in 1996, over 66% are ADN graduates (NLN, 1996). According to a National League for Nursing (NLN) Report, 1994 ADN graduates functioned in a variety of settings with 22% working outside the hospital (NLN, 1996). ADN graduates possess many of the competencies needed by registered professional nurses. ADN Advances NLN's Vision for Nursing Education promoted inclusion of community learning experiences by all levels of nursing education. Associate degree educators rapidly identified the needs in their communities and offered learning experiences with individuals and families in community settings (Mueller, 1995). Although Dr. Montag never envisioned the nurse with the associate degree building on the education to obtain a baccalaureate or higher degree, in 1965 the ANA voted to propose the entry level of a baccalaureate degree for entrance to professional nursing practice. At various times, other nursing leaders have suggested the nursing doctorate as the entry level. The ANA resolution has been made law in only two states at this time. The Community College-Nursing Home Partnership Project funded by W.K. Kellogg was initiated to enhance the preparation of ADN graduates for work with an increasing elderly population, as well as to manage and delegate to unlicensed personnel (Sherman, 1993). June 2000 Dr. Montag remained actively involved in the life of Adelphi University (formerly Adelphi College) during her lifetime. At a presentation at the June 2000 Homecoming for the Class of 1930 at the Ruth S. Harley University Center, the invitation read "Please join the members of the first graduating class from Adelphi's Garden City Campus as we remember the days of yore with Dean Emerita Ruth S. Harley '24 and Dr. Mildred Montag, Director Emerita, School of Nursing." In 2003 she was honored at the 60th anniversary of the Adelphi University School of Nursing and was made the first member of the School of Nursing Hall of Fame. The medal awarded to each subsequent person honored by being appointed to the Hall of Fame will bear her image. Additional Readings American Association of Community Colleges. (1996). National Profile Community College: Trends and Statistics 1996. Annapolis Junction, MD: Community College Press. Haase, Patricia T. (1990). The Origins and Rise of Associate Degree Nursing Education. Durham and London: Duke University Press. Louden, D., Crawford, L., and Trotman, S. (1996). Profiles of the Newly Licensed Nurse. Publication No. 19-2700. New York, NY: NLN Press. Mueller, A., Johnston, M., & Bopp. A. (1995). Changing associate degree nursing curricula to meet evolving healthcare delivery system needs. Nurse Educator, 20(6), 23. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (1996–97). Quarterly Reports, July 1996–June 1997. New Jersey: The Chauncy Group. National League for Nursing. (1996). Nursing Data Review, 1996. Publication No. 19-685. New York: NLN, Center for Research in Nursing Education and Community Health. National League for Nursing. (1996). Nursing Data Source 1996. Volume I: Trends in Contemporary Nursing Education. Publication No. 19-6932. New York, NY: NLN Press. National League for Nursing. (1990). Vision for Nursing Education. New York, NY: NLN Press. Sherman, Susan E. (1993). The community college-nursing home partnership. In C. Heine (Ed.), Determining the Future of Gerontological Nursing Education, pp.37–40. New York: National League for Nursing Press. Adopted 1/31/98 http://www.noadn.org/
		Mildred Montag's biography was written by Dr. Marilyn Klainberg, Associate Dean. This page last modified on 15 June 2005