Press Release

March 14, 2006
Contact: Kaylyn Kendall Dines
Phone: (973) 972-3000
dineskd@umdnj.edu

UMDNJ Offers Masters Degree Program in Clinical Trials Research for Nurses

NEWARK—The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is the only university in the state to establish a graduate degree program for nurses who want to specialize in clinical trials research. Applications are now being accepted for admission to courses at the UMDNJ-School of Nursing in Newark and Stratford.

The Clinical Trials Research Nurse program helps establish nursing standards of care for scientifically valid clinical trials. It was developed in collaboration with The Cancer Institute of New Jersey to give nurses didactic and clinical experience that will prepare them for positions in health systems, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and federal agencies. Curriculum focuses on understanding the latest treatments, and improving the quality of patient care and patient outcomes.

"We are proud that our faculty is involved in research at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey and in a variety of basic sciences and clinical settings," said Dr. Sara Torres, dean of the UMDNJ-School of Nursing. "Clinical Trials Research Nurse students will benefit from their mentorship during fieldwork. As graduates, our students will be prepared to serve in leadership roles and participate in research from conception to completion."

The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree focuses on clinical trials research is being offered at the UMDNJ-School of Nursing. The primary clinical site is The Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, the state’s first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"While a Clinical Trials Research Nurse's main responsibilities are patient care and patient safety, this individual also manages studies and monitors compliance with federal standards," said Rita Musanti, an instructor at the UMDNJ-School of Nursing and an advanced practice nurse at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. "The nurse's value will be evident across the spectrum of care for the clinical trial participant. Nurses will be involved in many areas such as in providing patient care, designing databases, monitoring regulatory adherence, evaluating data, and managing budgets."

This 38-credit program can be completed in three semesters of full-time study; part-time study is also available. Classes in the core curriculum are available online and via distance learning technology. During their final semester of study, students will pursue clinical trials fieldwork that will include work in settings such as hospitals, research institutes, and pharmaceutical companies. Fieldwork may focus on various specialties including, but not limited to, cardiology, pharmacology, and oncology.

"Historically, nurses have held a variety of significant roles in clinical trials research," said Dr. Regina Cunningham, chief nursing officer at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. "Through this degree program nurses who are interested in oncology research, for example, can complete their fieldwork at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey."

For more information, contact SNadmissions@umdnj.edu and a nurse recruiter at the UMDNJ-School of Nursing, at 973-972-5336.