Seton Hall University College of Nursing has received a $180,563 grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey to expand clinical training for students in its M.S.N. in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program. The funding will support a new partnership with the North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI), a Newark-based health organization.
The grant will fund a full-time nurse practitioner who will act as a preceptor for up to six PMHNP students each year. This clinician will also maintain an annual caseload of at least 150 patients, focusing on individuals experiencing homelessness, those living with HIV/AIDS, and people with substance use disorders.
Students in Seton Hall’s program will receive hands-on experience working alongside clinicians at NJCRI’s Newark facilities. The initiative aims to address behavioral health needs among underserved populations while enhancing educational opportunities for nursing students.
“This collaboration reflects Seton Hall’s mission to prepare practitioners who elevate the standard of care in underserved communities,” said Kristi Stinson, PhD, RN, APN, PNAP, interim dean of the College of Nursing.
The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey was established in 1996 and supports projects that improve access to care and strengthen healthcare programs for vulnerable populations in greater Newark and Greater MetroWest New Jersey’s Jewish community.
Seton Hall offers its M.S.N. in PMHNP program online with asynchronous coursework so working nurses can continue their professional responsibilities while studying. The new preceptorship increases required clinical placement options for students.
Program Director Kate Tarpey-Balsamo, Ph.D., M.S.N., principal investigator on the grant, said: “Our students gain the most when they learn from expert clinicians serving diverse and complex populations. This partnership ensures they enter the workforce with the advanced skills needed to meet rising mental health demands.”
According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration, there are more than 6,200 areas across the country facing shortages of mental health professionals. More than 6,400 additional practitioners are needed nationwide to address these gaps.
