New Jersey City University Nursing School Review

New Jersey City University (NJCU) was established in 1929 as New Jersey State Normal School at Jersey City. The normal school was dedicated to teacher training and later advanced to a state teachers college. The college expanded from a teacher’s college and by 1958, it was offering degrees besides teaching. Four decades down the line, the college was granted university status and adopted the current name. NJCU is set in an urban location of the 2nd populous city in the state. This public university offers over 40 undergraduate, about 30 graduate and continuing education opportunities.

Nursing Programs at New Jersey City University

The nursing department at NJCU has quite a number of Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) programs to offer. The on-campus programs are a registered nurse (RN) to BSN completion program and an accelerated BSN option. The university has a dual admission program with Brookdale Community College nursing students and a Joint Admission option with 3 other colleges namely:

  • Bayonne Medical Center School of Nursing-BMCSON
  • Christ Hospital School of Nursing-CHSON
  • Hudson County Community College -HCCC

The department of nursing also offers a Graduate School Nurse Certificate to students who have already earned a BSN degree.  All programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting commission and approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.

RN-BSN

This RN to BSN program is open to registered nurses with current and valid New Jersey licensure or with eligibility for the state’s RN licensure. Candidates must be graduates of accredited associate or diploma nursing programs. Students are admitted to complete the upper division nursing major courses and earn to earn a baccalaureate degree. There are full time and part time study options for completing the curriculum.

Following acceptance, students take a BSN Transition course for which they receive 17 upper division credits. Courses taken at other colleges equitable to the NJCU nursing requirements are validated via CLEP examinations to facilitate transfer. All upper division nursing courses offered at NJCU plus those transferred must total to 128 for eligibility to graduate with a BSN degree.

Accelerated BSN Program

The accelerated bachelors of science in nursing program is designed for career shifters who hold baccalaureate degrees in fields other than nursing. Candidates must have completed all prerequisite courses congruent to the requirements of the NJCU BSN degree.  It is a highly intensive 12-month full time program that enables students to become professional nurses. The 64-credit coursework is offered on site at two locations of the university:  Wall Campus Township and the main campus at Jersey City. The option at Wall Campus starts in May while the main campus program starts in September. After successful completion of the required coursework, students become eligible to apply and write the NCLEX-RN exam initial RN licensure.

RN to BSN Dual Admissions with Brookdale Community College

This dual admission program enables BCC students to earn both associate and BSN degree credits at the same time while at BCC.  In this case, students take the usual 72 associate of science in nursing credit at the community college together with an additional 10 credits of support courses from either BCC or NJCU; whichever the student chooses.

After completion of the associate degree requirements and the 10 extra credits, students can seamlessly transfer all the 82 credits to towards the NJCU BSN. This leaves the students with only 46 upper division nursing credits to complete at NJCU in order to earn the BSN degree.  14 of these can be waivered following completion of a specific level 400 5-credit course

Joint Admissions BSN Program with BMCSON, CHSON & HCCC

This option is open to nursing students of the above named diploma schools and the associate school. The two hospital-based diploma nursing schools; BMCSON and CHSON have their cooperative programs with Hudson County Community College to enable students earn an associate degree besides the nursing diploma.

In this case, students must be accepted at HCCC and any one of the other 2 diploma schools. If this condition is met, students must then complete all general education courses at HCCC and all lower division nursing courses at either CHSON or BMCSON.  Courses are completed as follows:  37 in general education at HCCC, 33 in lower division nursing courses at CHSON or BMCSON and 59 in upper division course at NJCU. After completion of the first 2 batches, students transfer 70 credits towards the NJCU BSN program. Moreover completion of a BSN Transitions course equivalent to 5 credits waivers 17 credits from the 59 NJCU course load.

Graduate Certificate In School Nursing

This 30-credit certificate program is meant for registered nurses who wish to become school nurses. It is open to candidates who, besides being registered nurses with valid licensure, are holders of a baccalaureate degree.

A special option is available for those who successfully complete this certificate program. In this case, graduates can add an extra 12 credits to receive a Master of Science degree. This degree is for those interested in School Health Education as an area of specialization.

Contact:
New Jersey City University
2039 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City,
NJ 07305