Montclair State School of Nursing Launches BSN Degree Program

The School of Nursing at Montclair State University has announced that it is accepting applications for admission to its newly launched four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. The School will enroll its first class of up to 50 freshman students this fall.

“The BSN is the preferred degree for entry into registered nursing practice,” says School of Nursing Dean Janice Smolowitz. “With the new BSN degree program, we plan to enroll students beginning in the freshman year so they can engage with faculty as they develop the skills and critical thinking required for nursing practice.” After earning their BSN degrees, graduates will be eligible for licensure as registered nurses (RNs).

“By developing new programs, such as the new BSN degree program, Montclair State has been able to proactively meet the evolving educational needs of New Jersey and beyond,” says Montclair State University President Susan A. Cole. “The School of Nursing was established to meet a demand for highly qualified nurses that is expected to continue well into the foreseeable future. Our BSN degree program provides a top-quality nursing education that fully prepares tomorrow’s nurses to respond to the challenges of a changing health care industry by delivering state-of-the-art care.”

The School of Nursing enrolled its first cohort of 54 students in its inaugural Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree program in fall 2016. This program is designed so that RNs who graduated from associate degree and diploma programs can earn a BSN degree. The BSN degree opens doors to career advancement and is associated with improved patient outcomes.

The new, comprehensive BSN program – like the RN to BSN program – provides a foundation for graduate education and lifelong professional development. Admitted to the program as freshmen, students will be prepared to provide compassionate, coordinated health care services for persons within the context of family and community.

“Grounded in nursing as a human caring science, our innovative BSN curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of New Jersey’s culturally diverse communities, across settings and time,” explains Smolowitz.

Students in the BSN degree program will also be able to gain a better understanding of the professional role of nurses by collaborating with RNs who are completing their coursework in the RN to BSN program.

All School of Nursing programs are held in a newly renovated 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, including lecture halls, fully mediated classrooms, an anatomy lab and computer study areas. Specially designed nursing laboratory spaces provide dedicated areas where students develop skills in specific procedures, while a high-tech simulation center fosters student decision-making, problem-solving and interpersonal-communication skills.

“We are looking to the future,” says Smolowitz. “We have recruited a very forward-thinking faculty who are fully committed to educating nurses prepared to meet the needs of individuals and populations in a rapidly evolving, technologically advanced health care system.”

For more information on Montclair State University’s BSN program, visit http://www.montclair.edu/nursing/