New Jersey RN to BSN Bridge Programs
As a nurse, your education is a lifelong endeavor that can help you to provide nursing care that is of the highest quality. As bedside care, case management and healthcare delivery continue to evolve, nurses are being called upon to help patients navigate and increasingly complex system. As a result, more RNs are moving toward higher education and obtaining their BSNs. In this time of healthcare reform, staying abreast of the changes to healthcare delivery is essential, and nursing schools in New Jersey are helping RNs to do just that.
There are a wide variety of nursing programs in New Jersey with a good number of RN to BSN bridge programs in the state. RN to BSN programs in NJ offer a way to earn your baccalaureate degree, while maintaining your work schedule. Now may be the best time to consider entering one of the RN to BSN programs in New Jersey, as lawmakers have pushed to require higher levels of education in healthcare due to the increasing demands – and for healthier patient outcomes.
At BestNursingDegree.com, we want to help you find the nursing schools in NJ that offer the programs you want. That’s why we have made it easy to contact as many nursing schools as you’d like, to help you compare and contrast RN-BSN programs until you find the right program for you. Be sure to also consider online RN to BSN programs in NJ and beyond, as they tend to provide a more flexible schedule for working students.
In addition to the personal satisfaction that can result from earning a higher nursing degree, there may be more pressing reasons to go back to school for your BSN as well. New Jersey is one of the first states to propose BSN in 10 legislation, which requires all newly licensed nurses to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) within 10 years of initial licensure. While the New Jersey Nurses Association has been quick to reassure working nurses that the proposed legislation will only affect new nurses, New Jersey nurses may sense a strong push toward advanced nursing education. Many nurses are heading back to school by way of RN to BSN programs in NJ, in order to gain professional knowledge and to maintain a strong foothold in the employment market.
The New Jersey Nurses Association also stresses the educational advantages of a BSN degree. According to their website, a BSN “provides the practice skills that allow an RN to rescue a complex patient whose condition begins to deteriorate in subtle and complicated ways.” BSN degrees can also provide education and experience in nursing management, research and education. There are several nursing programs in NJ that offer RN to BSN routes to help you reach your personal and professional goals, and you can request information from all of them at BestNursingDegree.com.
Characteristics of RN to BSN Programs in New Jersey
Advanced courses in the nursing sciences include theory, concepts and critical thinking skills. A BSN will prepare you for a wider scope of practice that addresses health promotion and prevention, leadership models and advanced practice skills. As part of your overall RN-BSN program, courses may include the following:
- Advanced practice in maternal, pediatric and mental health nursing
- Diagnostic reasoning and assessment skills
- Microbiology, psychology and sociology
- Public health and community nursing
- Advanced pharmacology for nurses
- Lifespan development or developmental psychology
The RN to BSN program is typically completed in a bridge or transitional program in approximately 18 months. Prerequisites are completed before your entrance to the program and are counted along with the 60 credits from your ADN. The required credits for the BSN degree in New Jersey typically total 123. The length of the clinical practicum varies but is usually 12 to 16 weeks of a full time class schedule. Many nursing schools in New Jersey also offer part-time programs, allowing you to complete your studies at a more relaxed pace.
Opportunities for the RN, BSN in New Jersey
New Jersey Registered Nurses with a Bachelor’s degree have several opportunities for advancement within the healthcare landscape. There are often positions in bedside care and specialty nursing areas available at magnet hospitals that value your commitment to excellence. For those who wish to leave the bedside, administration and nursing management positions are ideally filled with experienced baccalaureate prepared RNs, in order to provide the quality of leadership desired.
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital policies require all RNs to have a BSN at hire or within a specified period of time
- Trinitas Regional Medical Center provides specialty certifications in oncology, intensive care and other nursing areas
- Hospice positions for the Visiting Nurse Association require a BSN and provide independence and autonomy
- Barnabas Health prefers RNs with advanced degrees to provide pediatric care and sedation management
- Non-hospital positions include working in plastic surgery and outpatient surgical centers for advanced medical technology
The Job Outlook for Baccalaureate Prepared Nurses in New Jersey
Nurses in New Jersey are experiencing great change from the recent legislation purposed to require RNs to complete a BSN within 10 years of graduation. Although current ADN nurses will not be affected, nursing positions in the future may be restricted to baccalaureate nurses. Nursing programs in NJ are increasingly being filled by nurses looking to stay ahead of the proposed requirements. The projected current goal of New Jersey is that 80 percent of RNs will have a BSN by 2020. New Jersey RN’s also earn a mean annual wage of $77,360 a year, much higher than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2013).
RN to BSN Programs in New Jersey Include:
- College of St. Elizabeth. Off-campus RN to BSN classes, many located near local hospitals, may make the RN to BSN program an attractive option for working nurses. Nurses who hold an ADN degree can enroll as juniors; nurses who have a diploma in nursing may need to complete some general education classes before enrolling in upper level nursing classes.
- Seton Hall University. Seton Hall, home of New Jersey’s first BSN program, now offers an online RN to BSN program that’s convenient for working nurses. A couple On-campus weekend visits are required; the rest of the coursework can be completed online and in students’ home communities.
- Thomas Edison State University. Thomas Edison State University offers an online RN to BSN program with rolling admissions, which means that students can start the program as soon as they’re accepted. Students can take as long as they need to complete the program, provided they finish at least three credits every 12 months.
