Montclair State University is at the forefront of college programs filling a critical need in New Jersey for advanced practice nurses.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy providing registered nurses with advanced knowledge in nursing education, administration, and clinical research, we anticipate improving healthcare delivery in a variety of settings,\u201d says Janice Smolowitz, Dean of the School of Nursing. According to local, regional, and national reports, strong job growth is anticipated in these nursing specialties.<\/p>\n
To help meet the need, Montclair State is providing a limited number of tuition scholarships<\/a> to assist Spring 2020 newly enrolled students pay for their first course. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.<\/p>\n Since the launch of the School of Nursing, Montclair State has worked towards reversing an impending shortage due to retirements and the rising needs of the baby boomer generation. It is also providing specialty education for registered nurses that will expand their roles and impact healthcare systems for the better.<\/p>\n Candise Maoire, an RN at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, New Jersey, is part of the new graduate program launched in 2018 to advance her nursing career as a nurse educator. Montclair State\u2019s online program offers a level of flexibility that better accommodates her work schedule, she says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe University makes it something you can accomplish,\u201d Maoire says. The program is completely online, but \u201cprofessors are willing to work with you. You can call them, email them, come and see them.\u201d<\/p>\n In designing the program, Smolowitz says, \u201cwe realized these people have personal lives and a lot of different responsibilities. Our goal is to be nimble as we provide education designed to meet individuals\u2019 needs. Students in the program are employed full time and find on-line learning effective in advancing their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n At Montclair State, the 35-credit MSN is designed for working RNs who have earned baccalaureate degrees. In most cases, students can complete their clinical requirements at their current place of employment. The program offers degree specializations in nursing administration, nursing education and clinical research, and provides opportunities for ongoing career advancement, recognition of expertise through national certification, and participation in national organizations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to take what you\u2019re doing in your professional life and provide a format where you can work toward the next steps in your career,\u201d Smolowitz says.<\/p>\n By filling a demand for highly qualified nurses, Montclair State supports the complexities of providing care for individuals across the lifespan. The University also offers the RN to MSN Bridge<\/a> program for RNs with Baccalaureate Degrees in Non-Nursing Disciplines. At the undergraduate level, the RN to the BSN<\/a> and a four-year BSN<\/a> degree are offered. The School of Nursing facility features a simulation lab designed to address the learning needs of students at all levels as they care for persons in varying states of health.<\/p>\n