The nobility of nursing has never been questioned, but for years the profession suffered low self-esteem. That’s quickly vanishing. Good starting salaries, job openings nationwide, and more avenues for specialization that lead to greater responsibility and higher pay are changing the picture. And for those wanting to switch careers without a multi-year investment of time and money, a BSN can be earned in 15 months at UMDNJ.
The program, which is offered in Newark and Stratford, attracts people of all professional backgrounds and ethnicities, a range of ages from the mid-20s to the 50s, and more men than ever before, says Dawn Kozlowski. “It’s demanding and requires a full-time commitment,” she explains.
Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 cumulative average. Completion of three non-science prerequisites—sociology, psychology and statistics—within the last 10 years and four science prerequisites—chemistry with lab, microbiology with lab, and a full-year of anatomy and physiology with lab within the last five years—is also required. “These courses can generally be completed in two to three semesters,” says Kozlowski.
“In the words of one of our students: ‘This school is the place to be,’” says the assistant dean. Why? “It’s being part of the University, it’s the very caring faculty, and it’s the high quality of the clinical and classroom teaching. The graduates feel very well educated.”
For many, the desire for education doesn’t stop at graduation. BSN candidates often think ahead to the master’s and doctoral degrees. The school offers 20 MSN specializations, including clinical trials research, nurse anesthesia, nursing informatics, women’s health, nurse midwifery and adult health with an oncology focus. SN was the first school in the state to offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and 21 students are completing the program in 2008. SN also partners with Rutgers-Newark and NJIT to offer a PhD in urban systems with three specializations—urban health, urban environment and urban educational policy.