All colleges and universities in New Jersey offering a BSN degree program must ensure that the curriculum and requirements for graduation comply with the New Jersey Board of Nursing in order to receive accreditation. A BSN program requires four years of study, during which the first two years are spent completing university core education requirements in the liberal arts and sciences. During these first two years the nursing student must also ensure completion of the prerequisites for the nursing course work, which includes nutrition, developmental psychology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, statistics and microbiology. The final two years are spent completing the 18 nursing requirements, which consists of course work in pediatrics, geriatrics, pharmaceuticals, maternity, mental health and adult nursing. In addition, the nursing student completes management, communication and leadership courses relating to the profession. Students must complete 125 credits to be eligible for graduation.
As of April 2009, the New Jersey colleges and universities offering a BSN are Bloomfield, College of New Jersey, St. Elizabeth, Felician, Georgian Court, Henry P. Becton, Kean, Marjorie, New Jersey City, Ramapo, Richard Stockton, Rutgers, Seton, St. Peters, Thomas Edison, Thomas Jefferson, UMDNJ and William Paterson.
An ADN is a two-year program offered by many community colleges in New Jersey. The program requires completion of two to three general education courses and seven nursing courses. Nursing students must show proof of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification for admission. Nursing students complete the following nursing prerequisites: developmental psychology, anatomy and physiology and microbiology. Required nursing courses are medical terminology; management; and four general nursing courses that focus on patient relations; health promotion; acute and chronic health problems; family care; pediatrics; and obstetrics. Students must complete 66 credits for graduation.
As of April 2009, the community colleges offering an ADN are the following: Atlantic Cape, Bergen, Brookdale, Burlington, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Raritan, Middlesex, Warren and Salem.
A diploma in nursing is offered by various schools and hospitals throughout New Jersey. The program requires two years of full-time study and requires completion of English Composition, Speech, Computer Skills and a humanities course as satisfactory for the general education requirement. The nursing student must also complete anatomy and physiology, microbiology, algebra and psychology as prerequisites for the four nursing courses and seminar required for the program. Students complete 70 credits to become eligible for graduation.
As of April 2009, the following schools offer diploma programs in nursing: Bayonne Medical Center, Capital Health, Charles E. Gregory, Trinitas, Helen Fuld, Holy Name, Mountainside Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Francis and Mulhenberg.
A practical nurse (LPN) program requires 12 months of full-time study and is offered by vocational schools across the state. The curriculum focuses on fundamentals of nursing; gerontological and mental health nursing; maternity and pediatrics; acute care; and NCLEX-LPN preparation, which is the national certification examination for licensed practical nurses. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA and pass a criminal background check prior to admission.
As of April 2009, 40 vocational schools offer accredited LPN programs.