College | Short Read
Fast-track to Healing:
A Cure for the Nursing Shortage in New Jersey
By Lisa Ambrose | Winter 2024
To address the needs of the nursing shortage in New Jersey, Ramapo College has launched an Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing Program (ABSN).
New Jersey is one of the top ten states with the most open nursing positions. According to New Jersey Hospital Association President and CEO Cathy Bennett, the state also expects a shortage of more than 11,000 nurses by 2030.
The ABSN program is a full-time, 16-month program beneficial to those with an undergraduate degree and interested in a career change into nursing, those currently working in healthcare and wishing to become registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), and community college students with an associate’s degree and wanting to earn a B.S.N. For candidates who might not have the necessary prerequisites, a bridge program that offers the required coursework for the ASBN is available.
Prospective students can benefit from a special, flat-rate tuition program, a cohort model that fosters collaboration and support with classmates as well as state-of-the-art facilities in the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence. Ramapo has long-standing partnerships with several esteemed area hospitals and centers for clinical site placements including: Valley Hospital in Ridgewood; St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson; University Hospital in Newark; Holy Name in Teaneck; New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus; HMH Hackensack University Medical Center; and Atlantic Health System hospitals.
The accelerated program can be attributed to a legislative resolution co-sponsored by Senator Joe Lagana (D38-Paramus) and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D38-Fair Lawn) that provided Ramapo with a $1 million appropriation to meet the expected need for more nurses in New Jersey. The funds awarded are being used to increase the number of clinical simulation rooms and hire additional faculty to meet the demands that increasing enrollment will create.
Interest in becoming a nurse is rapidly growing and the response of the program thus far has been overwhelming. In just two months since its launch, the program has received over 250 applications and looks forward to welcoming its first cohort of 30-40 full-time ABSN students in May 2024.
Nursing programs at Ramapo College have been highly regarded for years. Recently, the nursing program achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the 2023 National Council Licensure Examination of Nurses, or NCLEX. All nursing students must pass the exam to become licensed registered nurses in the U.S.
In response to the achievement, Kathleen Burke, professor of nursing and assistant dean of nursing programs said, “The nursing faculty and staff carefully prepare their teaching methodologies to focus on clinical decision-making. They integrate case studies and simulation in all classes, enabling students to assess situations and make sound clinical judgments.”
The program’s success reflects its commitment to excellence in nursing education. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning through clinical experiences and simulation labs, preparing students for the rigors of the NCLEX and real-world nursing practice.
Ramapo’s nursing programs are consistently ranked at the forefront of healthcare education. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) placed in the top three in RegisteredNursing.org’s annual rankings. The nursing organization also honored Ramapo for having the number one online R.N. to B.S.N. program in New Jersey and the number five Master of Science in Nursing Administration (M.S.N.) program in the nation. The college graduated its first Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) students in May 2023.
The accelerated nursing program will enroll its first cohort to begin in May 2024. To learn more, visit the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing webpage for additional details about the program.