Press Release

September 7, 2006
Contact: Lynn McFarlane
(973) 972-8539
mcfarlld@umdnj.edu

UMDNJ Receives $1.8 Million in Grants for New Nursing Education Programs

NEWARK — The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has received two federal grants totaling nearly $1.8 million for two new nursing education programs. The grants will support continued development of an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s degree program as well as the implementation of a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, which will begin in the fall.

The UMDNJ-School of Nursing received $815,702 to support the growth of its new Accelerated Second-Degree BSN/MSN program that was launched at the Stratford campus in May 2006. The program has been offered in Newark since 2003. Designed for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another field, the program allows students to earn Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees at an accelerated pace. Applications are currently being accepted for the next session of the program, which begins in January on both campuses.

The nursing school was awarded $951,649 for its new Doctor of Nursing Practice program, which offers an alternative to the research-focused Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. While the PhD can prepare nurses for careers in research and education, the DNP is designed for nurses involved in patient care or in areas that support patient care such as management and policymaking. UMDNJ is the first institution in the state to offer the DNP degree.

“We are pleased that the federal government continues to recognize and support the important contributions UMDNJ is making to the nursing profession,” said Dr. Sara Torres, dean at UMDNJ-School of Nursing. “With its innovative undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral programs, the UMDNJ prepares nurses to excel at every stage of their careers-from entry level to advanced nursing practice.”

The two grants, which total $1,767,351 to be paid over three years, were awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Charged with improving access to quality healthcare for uninsured, underserved and special needs populations, the agency operates several grant programs that aim to strengthen the nursing workforce by supporting nursing education at undergraduate and advanced levels.

“Our first class of accelerated students is an outstanding group of high achieving men and women from diverse backgrounds who will be valuable additions to the nursing profession when they graduate,” said Dr. Anne McGinley, assistant dean in charge of the nursing school’s Stratford campus. “The federal funds are a welcome resource as we seek to expand this program in South Jersey.”

The federal funds will subsidize faculty salaries and other expenses for the Accelerated BSN/MSN program and the DNP program, explained Dr. Susan Salmond, associate dean at the Newark campus. “ HRSA encourages schools to implement leading-edge programs that will attract new nurses into the profession and provide advanced education to existing nurses. UMDNJ is in the forefront of these efforts,” she noted.

For more information about the Accelerated BSN/MSN program at the Stratford campus, prospective students may contact Jana Nelson at 856-566-6253 or nelsonjl@umdnj.edu. Prospective graduate students may contact SNadmissions@umdnj.edu or 973-972-5336. Details are also available at http://sn.umdnj.edu.

UMDNJ is the nation’s largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,500 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and a school of public health on five campuses. Annually, there are more than two million patient visits at UMDNJ facilities and faculty practices at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a statewide mental health and addiction services network.