With an increased demand for nurses with bachelor’s degrees, Centenary University has partnered with Atlantic Health System to create a 30-credit RN to BSN program.

Under the direction of Craig Fuller, Ph.D., director of Centenary’s health sciences and medical laboratory science program and an assistant professor of health science, the program is designed to help nurses adapt rapidly evolving medical technologies and the complexity of the healthcare sysem.

“As a result of the pandemic, we’ve witnessed firsthand the increasing demand for nurses across the nation,” Fuller explained. “Nurses with bachelor’s degrees are highly sought after to step into leadership roles at healthcare institutions. We need well-trained professionals with strong analytical and leadership skills, who can think critically and react with empathy to the emerging healthcare needs faced by our nation.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurses is projected to increase 7 % over the next decade. The average age of U.S. nurses was 50 in 2020, with an average retirement age of 62, as reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. In addition, pandemic fatigue has caused many nurses to depart the field. Centenary University and Atlantic Health System have a shared commitment to addressing this critical need.

“Now, more than ever, it’s important to promote community partnerships between respected institutions like Atlantic Health System and Centenary University,” said Trish O’Keefe, RN, Ph.D. President of Morristown Medical Center and senior vice president and chief nurse executive of Atlantic Health System. “Through our shared philosophy regarding education, advancement, and diversity, this partnership will prepare nurses to meet the healthcare needs of our community, in the present and the future.”

The new RN to BSN program is the latest in a series of new healthcare degrees and concentrations at Centenary.

Photo: Craig Fuller, Ph.D., director of the medical laboratory and health sciences program and Lauren Bergey, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural, Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences.