JFK Medical Center Nursing Program Review

JFK Medical Center (JFKMC) was formed in 1967 serving a tri-county area of Somerset, Union, and Middlesex. The medical center offers out-patient and in-patients specialty treatment health services. Besides offering medical services, JFK Medical Center is home to the JFK Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder Schools which offer a range of academic medical programs including therapeutic sciences, nursing, and medical imaging.

Nursing Programs at JKF Medical Center

Nursing programs at JFK Medical Canter are offered at the JFK Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder School of nursing. It is one of the 5 medical schools under the JFK medical system. The nursing programs are offered as a cooperative effort between JFK and Union County College.  There are 3 tracks towards the registered nursing licensure. A fourth program; Pathways to BSN is a registered nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) track with Rutgers, Kean University, and Wagner College.

The 3 tracks are a Generic program, a Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to RN track, and an Accelerated track. A fifth program also not affiliated with Union County College is a special nursing program specifically designed for single parents. Graduates are awarded a diploma from the medical center and an associate degree from Union County College. The programs have joint accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission with Union County College.

Generic Track

The generic track is for entry-level students who do not have prior nursing experience. The track has a curriculum of 75 credits: 38 of general education and 37 of nursing. All general education courses are offered at Union College while JFK faculty teaches the nursing component.

General education courses can be taken at multiple campuses of UCC namely Plainfield, Elizabeth, and Cranford while nursing courses are only offered at the school of nursing at Elizabeth campus. The track has day or evening/full or part-time and takes up to 5 semesters to complete. Students are awarded a diploma from JFK Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder School of Nursing and an associate degree from Union. Graduates also become eligible to apply and take the NLCEX-RN exam to become registered nurses.

Accelerated Track

The accelerated program is designed for non-nursing baccalaureate degree holders. It’s available on full-time and part-time options. Students ought to have completed the 38 general education courses either by transfer or from Union. Nursing classes start during the spring semester followed by a condensed 12-week summer session and a final fall semester. Courses in the 3 semesters are offered in an accelerated manner. The diploma and associate degree graduates become eligible to take the NLCEX-RN exam to become registered nurses.

LPN to RN Track

This is for licensed practical nurses who wish to become registered nurses through advanced standing. Students take a 3-4 week full-time summer LPN to RN Transition course equivalent to 4 credits. These are held in an escrow account until the student completes the other program requirements.

In addition, students can be awarded advanced standing for up to 4 nursing courses equivalent to 20 credits. The track takes 3 semesters and 2 summer sessions if students have met pre-requisites requirements. Two of the nursing courses in the 2nd and 3rd semesters offer choices for day or evening plans.  Students receive the diploma and associate degrees and become eligible for the NLCEX-RN exam.

Pathways to BSN

This is a 5-semester full-time program designed for students planning to take a BSN immediately after the registered nurse’s program. This program incorporates 6 Kean University courses equivalent to 20 credits that count towards the associate and BSN degrees. 6 credits count toward the associate degree and 14 for the BSN. Students in this program must be enrolled at the three colleges: Union, JFK, and Kean.

Following completion of the RN requirements, students can proceed for the BSN at Kean University. Due to the double credits taken earlier, students only take another 3 semesters to complete the upper-division BSN at Kean. This track can also articulate to the RN to BSN programs at Rutgers, Wagner College.

Audrey Snyder Single Parent Program

This is a special program meant for single parents with a child aged between 5-10 years. Candidates must demonstrate academic motivation, personal responsibility and must be ready for a one-one interview with the dean.

Beneficiary student nurses receive tuition scholarships and a family residential unit during the entire program period. Students are also assigned to family and academic mentors to help them cope with time management, socialization, interpersonal relations, self-esteem, and conflict resolution among other counseling services.

Contact:
JKF Medical Center
65 James Street, Edison,
NJ 08820