Accelerated Nursing Programs in New Jersey – 2022 (2024)

Though the prospect of making a career switch can be daunting, the healthcare industry is growing exponentially and requires registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and other capable professionals. If this appeals to you and you’ve already earned a baccalaureate degree in another field, accelerated nursing programs in New Jersey give you credit for your existing degree and prepare you for a fast-paced, high-paying career in as little as one year. Whether you choose the accelerated BSN option to become an RN or the direct-entry master’s program to work as an NP, you’ll earn your degree and enter the workforce far more quickly.

How Many Schools are Currently Offering New Jersey Board of Nursing Approved and CCNE Accredited Accelerated Nursing Programs in New Jersey?

Typical Accelerated BSN Programs in New Jersey Information

An accelerated BSN program in New Jersey is designed to help you earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and enter the nursing workforce quickly and with less expense. You will receive credits toward your BSN based on your existing degree, which means your coursework is tailored to your needs. After completing your program, you will be prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination, which is a requirement to work as an RN in the state of New Jersey.

Admission Requirements: The requirements for entry vary from one school to the next across the state, but all applicants must have an existing baccalaureate degree in any field or discipline to apply. Aside from this, taking a look at Felician University’s requirements may help you make better choices. Here, you’ll need to have:

•A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university or college;
•A 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for your undergraduate studies;
•A copy of your resume that shows any work experience you may have in your previous or current field;
•The proven ability to complete coursework and clinicals at an accelerated pace;
•Copies of all of your transcripts; and
•A B- or higher grade in all of the prerequisite courses.

Tuition Costs: Tuition is a huge concern for many nursing students, and costs will vary depending on the accelerated BSN program in New Jersey you choose. Rutgers University offers the program for $28,706, but if you attend Thomas Edison State University, you will pay $37,394. Tuition is far less expensive for residents of New Jersey, which is an important consideration, as well.

Length: Program lengths vary a great deal, and while most students complete the program in under two years, some schools accelerate the program even more for those who have completed the majority of their courses. For example, it will take you 19 months to finish the program at Felician University, but if you attend Farleigh Dickenson University, you will finish the program in one year.

Classes: Your nursing courses will vary somewhat, too, but they will all focus on several tenets of nursing that are important across the state. These include things like illness, disease, and drugs; mental health; caring for adults and children in individual, family, or community settings across New Jersey; nursing management and leadership; ethics, privacy, and diversity in the workplace, and more.

Clinical Training: Clinical training is a requirement for program completion in the state of NJ and involves traveling to a medical facility that partners with your school of choice to gain hands-on experience through direct patient care. You will take vital signs, talk with patients, and attempt to help triage and diagnose patients based on information you learn in the classroom. All of this occurs under the direct supervision of school or facility faculty and staff.

Following is the List of 9 Accelerated BSN Programs in New Jersey for 2022

1. Caldwell University, Caldwell

Caldwell University located in a beautiful setting in the picturesque town of Caldwell, is well-connected to leisure and entertainment spots. Its graduates are well-prepared to provide effective patient care to a diverse population, with all the training the school provides with a dynamic coursework and a variety of clinical experiences. The school prides in its outstanding NCLEX-RN performance and only just recently in 2018, the overall pass rate was 98%. Graduates are in demand with the school’s clinical partners and quite a few of them find employment even before they earn their license.

The college offers a Second-degree nursing program for students with a B.A./B.S. degree in a non-nursing major. March 1st is the application deadline and you will need to have minimum 3.0 GPA in your first degree. Before taking up the major nursing classes you will need to complete 25 credits of prerequisite coursework in subjects such as Human Anatomy & Physiology, Principles of Chemistry, Microbiology and Psychology. After completing the prerequisite courses, you will be admitted into the nursing classes where you will cover topics such as Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and Transition to Professional Nursing.

2. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck

The Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health, an integral part of the university has for 65 years been providing excellent nursing education in the state of New Jersey. The school strives to provide the best clinical experience to its students by maintaining clinical affiliation with some of the prominent healthcare agencies in the region, including Atlantic Health Systems, Bergen Regional Medical Center and Children’s Specialized Hospital. Learning is facilitated by its dedicated faculty members that are experts in their respective field of theory, research, administration, informatics, advanced practice and nursing specialties.

The Accelerated B.S in Nursing is apt for students who have already finished their bachelors in some other field and aim to have a high-flying career in nursing. Students usually come from varied educational backgrounds, for instance, some students might come from Accounting while some others might be from the Arts background. Therefore, to ensure the transition to nursing is smooth, class size is small, and faculty goes the extra mile in offering extensive support to students. You can choose to pursue this course by enrolling into the one-year program beginning in mid-May or the two-year program beginning in the Fall semester.

3. Felician University, Lodi

The school of Nursing is part of the Felician University, a private Roman Catholic educational institution. The school provides a learning environment where compassion, care, ethics and values are incorporated into nursing science. The focus is mainly on evidence-based care and making nursing graduates problem solvers and critical thinkers. Its faculty works towards creating a climate conducive to learning, by being sensitive and flexible to the academic needs of its students.

Felician, with its rolling admission policy offers a full-time Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in NJ that can be completed in 19 months. You will attend six, 12-week sessions which include classroom learning, laboratory training and clinical experience. The extensively skilled and passionate faculty mentor the students and ensure their transition into the field of nursing is smooth. Upon graduation you will be eligible to take the RN-NCLEX examination and enter the workforce or enroll into a graduate program.

4. Georgian Court University, Lakewood

The Nursing School, one of the colleges at Georgian Court enjoys the benefits that come along with being part of the university. The campus is conveniently located just 60 miles from New York and Philadelphia. Providing education in the Roman Catholic tradition, it provides a close-knit environment of a small college.

The Accelerated B.S.N program is a 14-month program exclusively offered at Georgian Court University campus by the Seton Hall University. This course prepares students to work in a variety of settings that include hospice care, nursing homes, ambulatory care and acute care hospitals. With a class size limited to 30, the program begins in late August and ends in October the following year. You will need to attend classes Monday-Friday, for four semesters including the summer semester. By the end of this program you will be ready to take the NCLEX-RN examination and start your career as a nurse or post-licensure you can also take up graduate studies.

5. New Jersey City University, Jersey City & Wall Township

The New Jersey City University offers a beautiful learning environment to its students with its landscaped and vibrant campus right in the bustling Jersey City. Its small size classrooms that are facilitated by a distinguished faculty ensure its nursing students get the best classroom experience. Additionally, even outside the class, the school, with its many clinical affiliations offers an array of learning opportunities where nursing students practice professional skills. Graduates go on to find employment in all kinds of health facilities, nursing schools, home health centers, hospice care and long-term care.

Its short, 12 month Accelerated BSN is a popular second-degree nursing program in New Jersey that enables students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to transform into professional nurses. It is available at two locations one in Jersey City starting during September and the other in Wall Township starting May. Class size is limited to 60 students at the Jersey City campus and 30 seats at the Wall Township campus. Once the seats are filled up you will be put on waiting-list for admission in the following year. Coursework will cover subjects such as Adult Health and Illness, Maternal and Child Health Nursing and Psychiatric and Community Health Nursing.

6. Rutgers University - Camden, Camden

Rutgers University-Camden is one of the three campuses of Rutgers University. Its school of nursing offers an array of programs that go hand in hand with the ever-changing trends of the healthcare industry. Affordable nursing education along with the benefits of studying at a world class campus are some of the advantages you will enjoy as a nursing student. Besides, the personalized attention that you receive in its close-knit environment will help you achieve your academic goals.

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science (ABS) in Nursing program offered by Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden is a comprehensive 15-month program which provides an accelerated student the same amount of clinical practice as a traditional BSN student. This program accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Middle States Commission on Higher Education and New Jersey Board of Nursing has 2 start dates one in Spring and the other is in Fall. Application deadline for Spring is October 1 and for the Fall semester it is March 1. Graduates, due to their strong foundation in nursing, multi-disciplinary academic experience, and maturity are preferred by employers in the New Jersey region.

7. Rutgers University - Newark & New Brunswick

The Nursing program at Rutgers University-Newark is now offered through Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. It is one of the most prominent schools of nursing in the nation that delivers evidence-based nursing education. Its 200 affiliated clinical sites across New Jersey provide a variety of practice experiences to its students. In its endeavor to give the best training to nursing aspirants, it strives to integrate innovative teaching, encourage research initiatives, partner with health care settings and foster faculty engagement through research and clinical practice.

The 14-month fast-track Second Degree BS in Nursing Program is offered at its campus locations in Newark and New Brunswick. Classes start twice every year, once during the summer semester in May and the other during the spring Semester in January. You need to have a minimum 3.30 GPA in a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to be considered for admission into this program. This is an intensive full-time program so taking up employment while attending classes is not advised.

8. Seton Hall University, Nutley

In 1937, the first baccalaureate nursing program in New Jersey was offered by Seton Hall University College of Nursing. Today, the college is a force to reckon with in contemporary healthcare education. Taught by a faculty that is 80% Doctorally prepared, the school sure offers its students, a mentorship that equips them with all the necessary skills and knowledge to practice in various kinds of settings.

Seton Hall provides a 14-month Accelerated Second Degree BSN for students from non-nursing backgrounds at the Georgian Court campus in Lakewood, N.J. The program starts in the Fall semester and concludes in late October the following year. You need a minimum GPA of 3.00 in your previous degree to gain admission into this program. Apart from intensive classroom and lab training you will gain real-word experience at clinical sites such as Chilton Memorial Hospital, Morristown Medical Center, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and St. Michael's Medical Center.

9. Thomas Edison State University, Trenton

The Thomas Edison State University School of Nursing has an experience of 35 years of imparting high-quality nursing education. It has continuously worked towards making its programs innovative and flexible by offering self-paced programs. To provide a solid foundation for advanced study and lifelong learning the school emphasizes on nurse to nurse advising where nurse advisors who have had years of nursing experience work closely with students, guiding them through their educational journey.

The Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN program is divided into four, 12-week terms and has two start dates each year - one in April and the other in October. You will complete 60 general educational credits before entering the program and then earn 60 professional nursing credits through intensive classroom and online learning. As this is a rigorous full-time 1-year program where you will cover all the topics and clinical training as in a regular BSN, you are advised not to seek part-time employment. To help students practice knowledge and skills gained in classroom and lab the college has partnered with Capital Health, a leading provider of quality patient care in the New Jersey region.

Following is the List of 1 Accelerated MSN/Entry-level Masters Programs in New Jersey for 2022

1.Seton Hall University, Nutley

Seton Hall University College of Nursing, since 1937 has created leaders and innovators in the field of healthcare with its top-ranking nursing programs. With 12% of its nursing students being male, the college certainly is a popular choice amongst male nursing aspirants. Being backed by a faculty that comprises of 80% doctorally prepared, professors actively engage in research and stay connected with nurses all across the world. This helps them stay abreast with the latest happenings in nursing, leading to a mentorship that is global in perspective.

The fast-track Direct Entry MSN program in New Jersey offered by Seton Hall can be completed in just two years or six semesters. Coming from a non-nursing field, your first degree will be complemented by the rigorous nursing curriculum, giving a much broader knowledge base. The program prepares you to take the Clinical Nurse Leader exam and the NCLEX-RN and thereon become advanced nurse generalists. The curriculum includes courses in evidence-based practice, informatics, resource management, pharmacology and clinical nurse leadership. To be eligible for the program you must complete the pre-requisite coursework with a grade C or better in Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Developmental Psychology, Economics, Ethics and Statistics.

What Next After Completing My Accelerated Nursing Program in NJ?

Get My RN License: The first step toward your new career after finishing your accelerated nursing program in NJ involves visiting the New Jersey Board of Nursing to apply for your nursing license. Once you have completed this step, go to the Pearson Vue website to register, pay for, and schedule your NCLEX-RN licensure examination. This license is required to work as a registered nurse in New Jersey.

Where Will I Work: Most RNs across the state are employed in hospitals and nursing homes, namely in large cities that are heavily populated such as Newark and Trenton. Because facilities like these never close and provide patients with round-the-clock care, you may be required to work nights, even on weekends and some holidays. For a more flexible schedule, you may choose to work in a clinic or even a private doctor’s office. Some settings, such as emergency departments, can be fast-paced and stressful; others are more predictable.

Is the Career Change to Nursing Worth It in New Jersey?

Salary: After receiving your RN licensure in NJ, you can earn anywhere from $58,900 to $105,710 a year. If you choose to pursue an MSN and work as a nurse practitioner, you can earn between $90,640 and $151,480 a year. These salaries are highly competitive in the healthcare industry, and they lead many people to make the switch from their initial field of choice to healthcare and nursing.

Salary Compared to All Other Occupations in New Jersey: The average annual salary for all occupations in New Jersey other than registered nursing and nurse practitioners is $56,970 a year – which is right in line with the national average. However, as a registered nurse, you will earn an average of $82,101, and as a nurse practitioner, you will earn $117,630, which is well above these averages. These increased salaries are often well worth the additional schooling and tuition costs for aspiring RNs and NPs in this state.

Job Prospects & Security: Job security as an RN or NP in New Jersey is also excellent. Between 2017 and 2027, some 9880 new RNs will join the workforce in this state alone, representing a substantial growth of 12.27%. Nurse practitioner demand is also climbing in NJ; in the same period of time, 1490 will join the workforce, pushing growth in this occupation to 30.79%. As the population grows and more people than ever before gain access to good health coverage, more professionals will be needed to provide patient care and drive this growth forward.

Accelerated Nursing Programs in Nearby States

Accelerated Nursing Programs in Other States