EWING, NJ February 21, 2022 – Healthcare faces a staffing crisis like it has never seen before. One study finds nurse turnover surged 8.4% between 2020 and 2021, propelling the national average to ~27%. In the face of this unprecedented industry-wide challenge, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS) at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is preparing young healthcare professionals to exceed standards and deliver best-in-class care.

To get a better idea of just how SNHS accomplishes this, look no further than TCNJ alumnus and Penn Medicine Princeton Health Labor & Delivery nurse, Sydney Doyle, BSN, RN. “My experience studying nursing at TCNJ helped me after graduation by equipping me with the tools to succeed in both clinical and professional environments. Through rigorous coursework and studying under highly-esteemed nurse leaders and experts, I was able to refine my time management, clinical, and critical thinking skills and develop professional etiquette,” says Doyle.

Beyond academic and hands-on experience, Doyle suggests TCNJ’s alumni network adds equal value. She explains, “TCNJ’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences has afforded me a network of colleagues both near and far that fostered my growth while I earned my BSN and continually support me in my professional endeavors.”

TCNJ’s SNHS offers an undergraduate Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, as well as a BSN to Registered Nurse (RN) track.

Dr. Tracy Perron, Professor and Chair of TCNJ’s Nursing Department, argues SNHS stands out as a leader in accelerating students directly into professional healthcare careers or advanced studies. “TCNJ's reputation speaks for itself. We have consistently had a 94-100% pass rate and our students are gainfully employed within six months of graduation in some of the most notable healthcare facilities, such as Duke, Hopkins, CHOP, NYU, Sloan Kettering just to name a few. Also, our alumni get into some of the top graduate programs, like Duke, PENN, NYU, Rutgers, Hopkins, and Jefferson,” Perron says. 

The success of TCNJ’s nursing program at state and national levels has increasingly attracted students seeking a high-quality education in healthcare. For transfer student Adriana Pagnillo, the unique benefit of pursuing TCNJ’s nursing track is access to hands-on experience before graduation. “One experience at TCNJ that has helped to shape my understanding of the nursing field has been the lab experiences the program provides. The hands-on simulation labs, including mannequins that mimic real-life scenarios, give students the closest thing possible to a human experience. This allows the students to make errors and learn from their mistakes without the risk of harming real patients.”

TCNJ’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Dean Carole Kenner explains, “The national healthcare staffing shortage should worry just about everyone in the industry. Our School is honored to do its part to prepare medical professionals to perform at the top of their license.” The School rebranded in 2022 to reflect its robust and diverse, cross-disciplinary health science curricula.

TCNJ’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences educates aspiring health professionals to become future leaders across the healthcare industry. Faculty work closely with local healthcare partners to provide students with applicative skills and foundational knowledge. The nationally acclaimed school is dedicated to preparing individuals—through programs in nursing, public health, exercise science and physical education teaching—for the many rewards of guiding people, communities, and populations toward improved health outcomes. The School is nationally recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion.

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