Nursing
Program Overview
The Nursing Program is part of the School of Professional Studies at the College of Saint Elizabeth. Here you begin the journey of obtaining your BSN or MSN. The College of Saint Elizabeth offers the following nursing programs:
- Pre-Professional or Generic Baccalaureate
- RN to Baccalaureate
- Master of Science in Nursing, with a Leadership or Education track
The overall purpose of the nursing program is to provide students with challenges that expand their thinking and to develop tools to improve nursing practice. The faculty will guide students in the process of developing their knowledge, competencies and skills as exceptional professional nurses.
Pre-Licensure BSN
Students who are interested in the Pre-Licensure BSN degree apply and are admitted to the College with a pre-nursing curriculum. Students are given a placement test during the College’s new student orientation program which is used to determine their course sequence in the pre-nursing curriculum.
Students apply to major in the pre-licensure BSN program in the spring semester of the freshman year. Application to the nursing major is a competitive process and meeting the minimal admission criteria does not guarantee admission to the nursing program.
RN-BSN Program
The Program is designed to enable students to study on a part-time basis. There is also an accelerated full-time program of study which can be completed in one year (3 semesters-e.g. Fall, Spring, Summer) depending upon individual academic needs.
In addition to the classes on campus at the College of Saint Elizabeth, the program is offered at several off-campus sites:
- Atlantic Health System – Chilton Memorial Hospital
- St. Joseph Hospital, Paterson
- Trinitas Hospital/Union County College
Most courses are generally scheduled in seven-week sessions, and classes meet just once a week. Accelerated format requires independent work outside of class (Integrated Learning). Clinical work supplements class time and is selected by students in collaboration with supportive faculty to meet their educational and professional needs. Ordinarily, a candidate for a degree must attend the College of Saint Elizabeth for the equivalent of three years of study. All of the nursing courses can be taken through part-time study.
MSN Program
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program at the College of Saint Elizabeth is a 36-credit, cohort-based program which was developed in response to the growing need for nurses with advanced degrees who can assume leadership positions in education and practice. The program offers two tracks – Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership. The program provides nurses with the opportunity to develop the skills, confidence and knowledge necessary to practice as:
- Faculty in schools and colleges of nursing.
- Educators in health care organizations.
- Patient educators or community educators.
- Nurse leaders in health care organizations.
- Foundation for further educational advancement through nurse practitioner certification or doctoral education.