University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Nursing School Review

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is a complex story of numerous merges, renaming and relocations. Its history can be traced back to 1954, to the then Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry located in Jersey City. From that point, the college became affiliated with numerous medical schools, hospitals and medical centers coupled with change of names and locations. It finally adopted the current name in 1981 and became the largest public health science University of that time. The school of nursing is one of the 8 academic set-ups opened in 1992 as the 7th school at UMDNJ.

UMDNJ-School of Nursing Programs

The UMDNJ school of nursing primarily operates from the Newark campus but offers nursing programs at the Stratford campus too. It is a relatively large school that offers nursing degrees from the undergraduate level to the terminal degrees. At the undergraduate level, the university offers only 2 options for students seeking a 2nd degree in nursing: freshmen entrants do not have a chance at UMDNJ.

For graduate candidates, there are 11 tracks for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and 7 options for the Post-masters certificate programs. A special women’s health initiative program offers 6 MSN tracks covering women health concerns. What’s more, 4 of this are dual MSN degree programs! For the terminal degrees, UMDNJ has a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a multidisciplinary PhD in Urban Health and a Post-BSN DNP in Pediatrics. The university also offers statewide continuing education opportunities for registered nurses.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing-BSN

Apparently, UMDNJ does not offer entry-level / traditional nursing degrees for students coming as freshmen. Instead, it offers only 2nd degree options for career changers wishing to enter professional nursing.

Accelerated BSN Program

This is a fast –paced pre-licensure program designed for students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field from a nationally accredited school. The program offers a 62 pre-licensure credits curriculum meant to prepare students to take the NLCEX-RN exam. Students ought to have completed all general education and prerequisites courses before starting on the nursing courses. Most of this though can be satisfied from the previous degree.

The curriculum is rigorous and is offered on a full time plan only at the Newark and Stratford Campuses. It takes four consecutive semesters over a period of 15 months to complete graduation requirements. It is therefore recommended that students are not employed during the course of the 15 months. Upon completion, a 2nd degree Bachelor of Science in nursing is awarded. Graduates also become eligible to apply and write the NLCEX-RN exam to become registered nurses.

BSN Degree Part-time Program

This program is similar to the accelerated track in term of the type candidates and number of required courses for graduation. The only difference is the time taken to complete the graduation requirements. While the former takes 15 months, the part time program runs for 30 months. New students are admitted every summer semester to start on the 62 pre-licensure courses. Courses are taught in the evening and weekends only.

This program is currently offered at the Newark Campus but a replica of the same will be started at the Stratford campus by the end of 2013. The Stratford campus option will be admitting students once annually for classes begging spring semester. Courses in the Stratford campus are expected to be part time day for theory and weekends for clinical rotations. Just like the accelerated track, graduates become eligible to take the NLCEX-RN to make the switch to professional nursing.

Master of Science in Nursing

MSN programs at UMDNJ are offered at both campuses of the school of nursing. This category consists of the most nursing programs at the university including the special women’s health initiative tracks. In total, 18 distinct tracks are offered excluding post-master’s certificate options available for most of the MSN tracks.

All RNs must have at least 1 year working experience with exceptions of a few tracks. Additionally core courses can be completed any semesters online or on site for all tracks. Graduates become eligible to take national certification exams in their respective areas of concentration. All tracks are meant for BSN-prepared students and are as follows:

  • Adult/ Critical Care Nurse Practitioner

This track is has a curriculum of 42 credits and is available in full time or part time options at Newark and Stratford. Candidates for this track must have an additional 2 years clinical experience besides the 1 year RN experience

  • Adult Health Nurse Practitioner

Has a curriculum of 41 credits available in both full time and part options at Newark and Stratford

  • Dual Adult Health Nurse Practitioner &Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

This is a dual MSN track can graduates can become certified in both nurse practitioner areas. It has a curriculum of 50 credits available in both full time and part options at both campuses

  • Advanced Community Health Leadership

This track is available in two options: option I is 36credits and option II is 34 credits. The first option is for students who take 2 public health courses while option II is for students to choose one doctor of nursing practice course in addition to the other degree requirements. It is also available in both full time and part times plans.

  • Clinical Leadership MSN Program

This 33-credit track is available as a 5-semester part time option and is only offered at the Newark campus. Application for this tracks are accepted all-year round

  • Family Health Nurse Practitioner MSN Program

This track is has a curriculum of 46 credits and is available in full time or part time. Core courses can be completed any semesters online or on site.

· Family Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Care MSN Program

This track requires students to have a t least 2 years nursing experience working in emergency care setting. The 59-credit hour curriculum can be completed in part time or full time study plans.

· Gerontological Nurse Practitioner MSN Program

This tracks leads to certification in caring for older adults. It requires 38 credit hours which can be complete in full time and part time options.

· Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia

The nurse anesthesia program is relatively new and has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs. Candidates must meet additional admission requirements like having both New York and New Jersey valid and current registered nurse license. In addition, they must show evidence of at least 2 years working experience in intensive care units or surgery rooms. Since it a very competitive program, only candidates with very high GPA scores-above 3.0

It is only offered at the Newark campus on a full time basis-strictly no part time plans. It has a relatively large curriculum of 72 credit hours. New students are admitted at Newark every fall semester to embark on a rigorous study period of 28 months-7 semesters. Graduates become eligible to take the national examination to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

· Nursing Education MSN Program

This 40-credits track is offered online with choices of full time and part time completion plans. It offers graduates an added advantage in that, by the end of the curriculum, students will have completed 6 graduates that can be transferred to the DNP program. These are part of the 40 and count towards both degrees

· Nursing Informatics MSN Program

The track consists of 38-graduates credit and can be completed onsite at both campuses or completely online. Students participate in identifying suitable and convenient clinical sites for their clinical practicum sessions.

Women’s Health Initiative MSN tracks

· Nurse Midwifery

This is a single track consisting of 50 credit hours available at both campuses. It can be completed on part time plan or a 5-term full time plan. It is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education.

· Dual Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner & Nurse Midwifery MSN Program

This program enables registered nurses to become certified advanced practice nurses in the two mentioned areas. A total of 53 credits well distributed between the two areas must be completed in order to gain eligibility for the dual certification. It is offered onsite at the 2 campuses.

· Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner MSN Program

This track concerns issues affecting women across the lifespan. It is a 43-credit track designed to be completed onsite on part time or full time study plans.

· Dual Women’s Health & Adult Nurse Practitioner MSN Program

This dual track enables registered nurses to earn certification in the two areas of concentration. The dual program has a curriculum of 57 credit hours offered both campuses in part time or full time study modes.

· Dual Adult Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Midwifery MSN Program

This track is offered on a full time basis only at the Newark and Stratford campuses. It enables students take certification exams in the two areas after completion of 68-credits hours in a period of 6 terms.

· Dual Nurse Midwifery & Family Health Nurse Practitioner

This dual track is also offered on site at both campuses on a full time basis only. 7 terms are required to complete the 68-credit hour curriculum. Graduates become eligible for certification in both concentrations.

Post-Master’s Certificate Program

UMNDJ offers a number of post-master’s certificate programs in most of the MSN tracks explained above. MSN-prepared students can seek certification in the following specialties:

  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Nursing Informatics

Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner tracks

  • Adult Health
  • Acute and Critical Care
  • Gerontology
  • Family Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Care
  • Family Health

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

This is a practice-focused program designed for MSN-prepared students. It offers students two concentration focuses:

· Direct care tracks- Family, Individuals and Population

· Indirect Care tracks- Systems and Organization

The 40-credit curriculum is offered in an executive education mode that enables students to work full time and still study full time. Courses are in blocks in that one course must be completed before starting the next with a break between each course. Each course is designed to take one month and students meet every start and end of the course for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The track takes 6 full time semesters of 2 years to complete.

Post-BSN DNP- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

This, unlike the above DNP is designed for baccalaureate registered nurses seeking a doctorate degree. It is relatively new as the first class was admitted in January 2012. Post –BSN students will take the advanced practice role in pediatric nursing. The curriculum consists of 83 credits offered part time and full time at Newark and Stratford campuses.

PhD in Urban Systems

This is a multidisciplinary research-oriented program involving public health/urban health and policies around this area. It is offered collaboratively by UMDNJ, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers-Newark.

Continuing Education (CE)

UMDNJ offers quite a number CEs for Advanced practices nurses/registered nurses. Some in this category include a nurse residency program, RN refresher clinical and theory courses, pharmacology, prescriptions among others.

Contact:
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
150 Bergen Street, Newark,
NJ 07103