RWJBarnabas Health has opened a new facility for its School of Nursing in Oceanport, New Jersey, marking a significant expansion of one of the nation’s oldest nursing schools. The new site welcomed its first class of 53 students and aims to address the projected nursing shortage in New Jersey by increasing educational opportunities for aspiring nurses, particularly those in the southern region of the state.
Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer of RWJBarnabas Health, emphasized the importance of nurses within the organization. “Let me be clear, without our 11,000 nurses, there would be no RWJBarnabas Health,” Manigan said. “Our investment in nursing merely starts with the School of Nursing, but it does not end there. Through our Institute for Nursing Excellence and our Center for Professional Development, we provide support and training opportunities for the growth of our nurses throughout their entire career.”
The school, originally founded in 1891 as the Elizabeth General Training School, was renamed The RWJBarnabas Health School of Nursing earlier this year. It will continue to operate at its Elizabeth location on the Union College of Union County, N.J. (UCNJ) campus while expanding into Oceanport.
Nancy Holecek, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at RWJBarnabas Health, acknowledged the partnership with UCNJ. “We appreciate the incredible partnership and collaboration with UCNJ’s administration and leaders who were instrumental in making this possible,” she said. “Our collective vision for providing students with a learning environment conducive to developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to become competent, professional nurses will continue to be reflected in our nursing school philosophy.”
The Oceanport facility is located at 283 Sherrill Avenue in Squier Hall on the former Fort Monmouth site. It features advanced technology and hands-on training opportunities and also houses The Institute for Nursing Excellence at RWJBarnabas Health.
Mary Beth Russell, Senior Vice President of The Center for Professional Development, Innovation, Research & The Institute for Nursing Excellence, commented on the school’s expansion. “Today, we celebrate that achievement, the expansion of RWJBarnabas Health’s School of Nursing with our first class of 53 students; 724 students from our Elizabeth location and now Oceanport are pursuing their dream of becoming a nurse,” Russell said. “These students will learn more than they ever imagined, grow into competent and confident professionals, and make a difference that will ripple far beyond those walls.”
The school offers both Generic Registered Nurse (RN) and Cooperative Nursing programs at its two locations through its partnership with UCNJ. The Cooperative program includes an ACEN-accredited diploma program as well as a pathway for licensed practical nurses seeking to become registered nurses.
Dr. Maris Lown, Executive Vice President and Provost of UCNJ, highlighted the long-standing relationship between the college and RWJBarnabas Health. “As one of the top 10 community colleges in the country per The Aspen Institute, we celebrate our over 50-year relationship with RWJBarnabas Health’s School of Nursing,” Lown said. “We celebrate this expansion of RWJBarnabas Health’s Nursing Program, particularly at a time when they are needed most. We will do everything we can to enrich, enhance, and make this relationship one of the best in the country.”
Graduates from The RWJBarnabas Health School of Nursing are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is required to become a registered nurse in the United States.
Susan C. Reinhard, Chair of the RWJBarnabas Health Board of Trustees, addressed new students: “Your preparation at this school is literally your launching pad,” Reinhard said. “As a nurse, you have chosen a profession that offers endless possibilities. You will never need to search for meaning in your work. It will find you every day.”
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest academic health system and one of its largest private employers.
