Dean: Janice Smolowitz, RN, ANP, PHD, EDD, DNP
Montclair State University School of Nursing’s mission is to educate undergraduate and graduate nursing students to engage in full scope practice to develop, implement, and evaluate compassionate, coordinated health care services through innovative collaboration with diverse communities. The programs are grounded in the human science of caring and relationship based care model.
The School of Nursing was established in 2015. The first program offered, the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree began enrolling students in fall 2016. This program provides RNs who graduated from associate degree or diploma programs the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The program emphasizes further refinement and advancement of nursing knowledge and skills focused on future health care delivery. The first graduates were awarded their degrees in spring 2018.
In fall 2017, the first class of 50 freshmen students entered the four year pre-licensure, generic Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) degree program. The BSN is recognized as the preferred entry-level degree for employment in the nursing profession. This program requires full-time enrollment and admission is limited to first time freshman. Students are introduced to the nursing profession in the freshman seminar. They begin taking nursing courses during the sophomore year of study and practice clinical skills in the simulation center. During the junior and senior years students apply nursing theory in clinical settings that address the needs of persons and families in acute, chronic, and community based settings. Students who successfully complete all program’ requirements earn the BSN degree and are eligible for licensure through examination.
BSN prepared RNs are eligible for admission to programs that offer the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. They may also consider advanced practice opportunities in the nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist role. Opportunities exist in the local and national markets for nurses with these advanced degrees and specialty areas of practice.
In fall 2018, students began enrolling in the on-line Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program. The MSN degree program prepares RNs for advanced practice roles with specific specialty concentrations to facilitate change and promote health in complex organizations and systems. Three specialty concentrations are offered – Education, Administration, and Clinical Research. This program offers two pathways to the MSN. Registered nurses with BSN degrees directly enter the 35 credit MSN degree program. Registered Nurses with baccalaureate degrees in non-nursing disciplines are accepted into the registered nurse to Master of Science Nursing Bridge (RN to MSN Bridge) program. Upon successful completion of the 13-credit bridge, these students are fully admitted to the MSN degree program.
This fall, students will begin enrolling in the pre-licensure Master of Science, Nursing Degree program for non-nursing degree college graduates. This 18-month (63 credit) MSN degree program prepares students to sit the NCLEX-RN exam and enter the nursing profession as licensed, registered nurses with specialty preparation in care coordination and transition management.
The School of Nursing building is an ideal place for learning, networking, and interacting with peers. Its state-of-the-art facilities include new lecture halls, fully mediated classrooms, an anatomy laboratory, a computer classroom/lab, nursing skills laboratories, and nursing simulation laboratories with high-fidelity patient simulators.