The Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies has been ranked the third best nursing school in New Jersey, according to the 2019 Nursing Schools Almanac report. Monmouth has also been nationally recognized as a Top 100 school, ranking at No.91 in the United States, and No.38 for elite nursing schools in the Mid- Atlantic Region.
Janet Mahoney, Ph.D., RN, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies and a Professor of Nursing said, “I felt overwhelmed and very proud when I saw the rankings. Knowing that Monmouth University’s nursing programs are the best as we continuously strive for excellence and provide the best learning environment for our students to learn is one thing—but I feel very appreciated when others recognize it.”
The factors that determined a certain nursing programs academic prestige and value were graduates capability of paying student debt in opportune time, professional designations and grant funding received for nursing research from the National Institutes of Health, and the amount of years maintaining a graduate nursing education level.
Depth of nursing programs were weighted by undergraduate and graduate programs, consisting of their degrees, diplomas, and certifications offered. Graduate programs were heavily in terms of program enrollment size.
According to the report, data was collected from over 3,000 institutions in the United States. The research team assessed each nursing schools to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Scores were merged and placed in order from highest to lowest.
Some of the degree programs include two Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) pathways, two Master of Science in nursing pathways (MSN), and a 36-credit online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The school also offers graduate certificates in forensic nursing and school nursing, as well as post-master’s certificates in nursing education, and practitioner fields consisting of adult-gerontology, family, and psychiatric-mental health.
Final criteria evaluated first-time success rates of the NCLEX licensure exam, as well as accreditations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Mahoney praised the faculty for the supervision, care, and compassion they give to their students. He explained that over 90 percent of faculty hold doctoral degrees, and stressed the importance of having a faculty with broad knowledge and experience. “Advanced degrees in nursing open even more opportunities for our students as they care for their patients and our society,” he said.
Each nursing student is a member of the Monmouth University Professional Nurses Association. Top BSN and MSN students can become prospects for membership in the Lambda Delta chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society.
Antonia Prestine, a sophomore nursing student, enjoys the nursing program because of the small faculty to student ratio. “It’s only 30 kids in the program each year so you get to know your teachers and classmates on a personal level. It’s direct admission and you start clinicals your first year in the spring semester,” she said.
Prestine also believes nursing is a great occupation and always has opportunities.
Graduate student nurse liaison and Sigma Theta Tau Honors society member, Kimberly Reda, believes that Monmouth University should be ranked first. “I actually transferred from another graduate nursing program in New Jersey and can honestly say that Monmouth University supports its students immensely and I could not be happier with my choice to transfer to Monmouth University. Dr. Knapp and Dean Mahoney are kind, supportive, dedicated and are amazing role models,” said Reda.
When Reda applied to nursing school, Monmouth did not offer an undergraduate program. Therefore, she decided to attend Fairfield University.
Upon graduating Fairfield with a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), she began her nursing career in ER and trauma working in North Jersey, then eventually transferring to the cardiac catheterization lab. She currently works in the cath lab at Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center and is enrolled in the MSN-FNP program.
“High school students should apply to Monmouth University because the staff is extremely dedicated, caring and supportive. Nursing is a tough major and students need to be able to contact their professors and easily seek support. Monmouth University prepares the students to take their boards and pass them which is an impressive statistic,” she said.
Reda hopes the ranking encourages more nursing students to apply to Monmouth University.
The full 2019 Nursing Schools Almanac report is available at https://www.nursingschoolsalmanac.com/rankings. For more information about the nursing school please visit https://www.monmouth.edu/school-of-nursing-health/departments/nursing/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing/
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth University
