These quarantine days are passing so slowly.
I think we all agree with that.
But as time passes, the opportunities to grow and become professionally are the same.
You can opt for almost any type of profession.
All you need is basic education and here you are right in the workforce.
When talking about education, perhaps you may be interested to pursue one in Nursing.
If such is the case, welcome to a Registered Nursing article guide.
In US’s New Jersey you will find exactly this career with only a bit of research in the schools available there.
To get to the right one, however, you need to make an effort.
This effort means focusing on finding a school that offers licensure at the end of the studies.
This characteristic can best be known by checking the NCLEX-RN exam pass rates.
In New Jersey, there are in total of 46 RN schools available.
But don’t be stressed about that!
You will have to narrow down the number by selecting only the top-20 of them in this regard.
Which is simple.
The programs you will find in them all include an Associate degree in Nursing.
If you can relate they are the BSN, ASN, ADN, and MSN degree programs.
After doing your part, the state will do the rest.
All the support and stimulation the state is offering to new and future nursing students is included.
This support also enters the pursuit of a nursing degree with various incentives along the way.
In this aspect, I mean high salaries, career progress, and the finding of my favorite job in the field.
If you’re curious about the salary, I can tell you more about it.
But surely with a reference from the Bureau of Labor of Statistics which always does reports in this regard.
This time, its report suggests the average salary for nurses in New Jersey to be $79,840.
While is it also expected for nurses to experience annual job positions of 2,000 for a year as we reach the five upcoming years.
Of course, this increase in jobs does not come for candidates who stay in vain.
You should be the one who strives for quality patient care.
As well as try to enter the working force as soon as you’re able to do so to catch the train.
What are you waiting for?
For RN bridge programs visit:
- RN to BSN Programs in New Jersey
- RN to MSN Programs in New Jersey
Table of Contents
ADN Programs in New Jersey
The first nursing degree you may come across in New Jersey is the ADN or the Associate Nursing Degree.
The best thing about it is that it’s short.
And you can’t think otherwise with a two-year length.
With the pursuit of this degree, you will earn the Registered Nurse title.
The easiest way to find this program is to check-in technical schools, junior colleges, and similar places.
While the number of schools that offer it, in reality, is 12.
With such a number, your struggle to find the right school soon will end.
What to Look For in an ADN Program in New Jersey
Finding the right school to study is as important as finding the right program.
But what makes a program so good to attend?
Let’s find it out together.
Accreditation
In a world of so many nursing schools, accreditation is the key to ensure quality education in them.
The first thing to do when you pursue an ADN degree in New Jersey in fact should be to make sure its program is accredited.
In the state, this process is supervised by two accrediting bodies.
One of them is the Commission for Education in Nursing (AECN).
While the second is the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
While local accreditation in New Jersey is done through the New Jersey State Board of Nursing.
Licensing
In Alice and Wonderland, the cat says, ”If you don’t know where you’re going, all the roads will take you there”.
But the road to nurse licensure isn’t so hard and unknown to go through as Alice’s.
You can get there with a single NCLEX-RN exam.
The aim of the exam is to make sure you get the Nursing license from the main institution of nursing in New Jersey, which is the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
However, you also need to make sure you pass the exam, to achieve this success.
One way to do so is to check the school, its curriculum, as well as the faculty where you attend your nursing degree in.
So far, the number of graduates who pass the NCLEX exam in the state is 81.4%.
This number comes from the American Association of Colleges in Nursing report in 2015.
Program Outcomes
Here we come to the third most important thing to consider in an ADN program.
It’s the program outcomes.
These characteristics usually determine the programs’ success and give you an idea of the school’s previous nursing graduates.
And they are:
- Graduation rates
- Licensure exam pass rates
- Graduate satisfaction
- Employment rates
Amid these characteristics, you may consider the Ocean County College in Toms River, NJ.
The ADN program offered in this college is properly accredited, and therefore a quality one.
ADN Program Admission Requirements in New Jersey
Entering an ADN program in New Jersey isn’t a big deal.
All you need is to meet a few criteria, which usually include:
- Send the official transcripts from secondary school showing the subjects you’ve completed and grades you’ve earned
- Pass the TEAS test
- Pass a criminal background check
And you’re there.
Now, let’s take a look at tuition.
Tuition and Costs of ADN Programs in New Jersey
So many things in life get better by the plan.
The same can happen if you go for an ADN degree in New Jersey.
There are mainly two payment categories to consider.
One of them is tuition, which includes the courses you attend.
While the second is the indirect costs.
This is the category of textbooks, uniforms, mandatory fees, and transport.
The third option is to consider secondary payments available in the state.
These are financial aid and any possible scholarship as well.
These are amazing if you’re already struggling with nursing education payment in general.
However, if you want to know about an ADN program cost in New Jersey, you have an option.
I am talking about the Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg.
Its tuition cost is $143 per credit.
This cost is for students within the state.
While for students who live out of the state, the credit cost is $178.
Advantages of ADN Programs
Sometimes we want things in life, but we want them the easy way.
If you’re one of these people, an ADN program is the best nursing program for you.
I say this for two reasons.
First because of its short length.
And second, because you can actually attend its classes in less urban places.
These places are usually community colleges.
LPN to RN Programs in New Jersey
In the wide range of nursing programs, there comes another type of program.
These are the bridge programs.
In New Jersey, the first distinguishable program of this type is the LPN to RN.
The program is quite popular in the state.
That’s why you will find many students going for it.
Also, this program is a way to specialize and advance in the career or nursing in general, so why not take the chance.
Now let’s see the other bridge program option.
LPN to ADN/BSN Programs
It’s the LPN to ADN, BSN Programs.
The difference between this program and the first is it can be completed within a year.
Through it, you will prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam, which is crucial to licensing.
If you’ve been looking at this program, don’t look anymore.
You can easily find it in the Rowan College at Gloucester County.
The LPN to BSN program is a heavy course in terms of attendance.
It’s the ticket to baccalaureate coursework.
Whereas the Berkley College in Woodland Park is the perfect place to attend an LPN to BSN program as well.
However it is the case with choosing the school to attend these nursing pathways, you will still need to meet some requirements to be able to attend them.
These requirements usually include:
- Graduating from an LPN program that is approved by the Board
- A current LPN license which is unencumbered by New Jersey
- Possible prior work experience as an LPN
BSN Programs in New Jersey
The way to a Registered Nurse is linear.
First, we had an ADN degree.
Second, it’s the BSN or a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.
Urban areas and especially large universities are an adequate place to find this type of program in New Jersey.
With 4 years of study, a BSN degree will actually open up more job opportunities for you as well as reward you with higher pay.
In the state, you can pursue this program in two ways.
Either by a direct BSN program or choose an RN to BSN pathway.
Anyways, the program is taught in over 12 schools around New Jersey.
All their BSN programs are properly accredited.
What To Look For in a BSN Program in New Jersey
Before you do anything in life, you usually seek knowledge about it.
Or else, you try to see its benefits or limitations.
Similarly, when looking for a suitable BSN program in New Jersey, you need to consider a few factors that make it so.
These factors include accreditation, cost, and the outcomes of the program by far.
In addition, you may also opt for an accelerated BSN program or for an RN to BSN one.
The first works for you if you already have a BA degree in another field.
While the latter if you have attained the Registered Nurse degree.
Anyways, an accredited BSN program can easily be found in Thomas Edison State University in Trenton.
BSN Program Length in New Jersey
BSN programs in New Jersey have a long tradition.
Being four years long, they are oftentimes called Generic or Pre-licensure BSNs.
The shortest you can pursue one program like this is if you are looking for a BSN as a second degree.
In this case, you can go for an accelerated BSN program, which takes 15 months to complete.
On the other hand, if you already have an ADN degree, your option to go for is the RN to BSN degree.
This degree takes 2 years to complete.
However, contacting the school before starting the program is ideal to know exactly what length are BSN programs in it.
BSN Program Admission Requirements in New Jersey
Applying for a school will always make us search whether we meet its admission criteria or not.
In New Jersey schools, BSN programs have different requirements for their students.
Yet, the most common prevail the same:
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
- Reaching at least a standard grade of C+ or better in pre-requisite courses
- An essay that shows you have a clear interest in nursing
Tuition and Costs of BSN Programs in New Jersey
As expected, two types of costs will lie on your shoulder when it comes to pursuing a BSN program in the state.
One of them includes the tuition cost.
While the other includes the extra obligatory costs.
In the latter equipment, lab fees and similar costs are included.
By all means, if you can’t afford any of these, you may go for either financial aid or any possible scholarship in the state.
Though an accelerated BSN program in New Jersey City University semester cost or $8,304.35.
Attached to this, you will find a $1,260.50 nursing fee.
And also a $1,657.75 general payment for the studies.
Advantages of BSN Programs
The beauty of pursuing BSN programs in New Jersey is that you can explore various nursing positions at work, and also have a better salary.
The degree is most suitable for those who aspire for a 4-year degree and are seeking ways to advance in nursing.
MSN Programs in New Jersey
Last but not least, it’s the MSN program.
In New Jersey, this degree fits best for those candidates who want to pursue specific nursing roles.
These roles include Certified Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, and Clinical Nurse Specialist.
If you have a BSN degree in the first place, an MSN degree is perfect to help you determine your nursing career in one of the above-mentioned specialties.
Of course, these specialties pay off much more than the entire nursing degree.
So don’t second guess your thought of pursuing an MSN degree in the state.
You will be able to do so in more than 10 accredited schools across New Jersey.
MSN Program Length in New Jersey
MSN programs usually take two to three years of study.
The program’s schedule is so flexible that it fits nurses who have a busy time working and are also pursuing the degree.
This schedule may have time shifts like evening classes, part-time schedules, and online classes.
In all cases, students should check all schools that offer this program in order to see which coursework schedules they offer.
MSN Admission Requirements in New Jersey
MSN programs have their own admission criteria in New Jersey.
They usually consist of:
- Acquiring a BSN degree from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.0
- Write a Personal statement&Eessay
- Two letters of Reference
- Don’t forget the Professional Resume
Tuition and Costs of MSN Programs in New Jersey
The MSN cost is different in different schools.
Usually, they include tuition and other indirect costs such as room, board, transport, books, and lab fees.
A general cost can be considered one in Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah.
In it, the tuition and other expenses for the MSN program are $736 per credit.
For NP programs visit:
- New jersey DNP Programs
- New Jersey FNP Programs
- New Jersey Nurse Practitioner Programs
- New Jersey Post- Graduate Certificate Nursing Programs
Getting a New Jersey Nursing License
Applying for licensure in New Jersey requires some criteria as well.
The first includes sending an application, documents, and fees.
You can apply two ways for the license.
Either by exam or by endorsement.
If you apply for the licensure by exam, the following documents need to be attached:
- Register for the NCLEX exam
- Send passport photo 2″ x 2″, the passport needs to be signed and taken within the previous 6 months
- Proof of your citizenship
- Proof of immigration status
- Proof of your changed name (if it applies)
- Authorization that you have signed& completed the Criminal Background Check’ form
While application by endorsement means to send a notarized application along with the information put above, and attach these as well:
- Send a Verification of that you have received a nursing license from the original state-issued- request from a state or NURSYS (if applicable)
- Complete Fingerprint cards- you have to do this if you live outside the metropolitan area of the state
Accelerated Nursing Programs in New Jersey
The best way to shorten your nursing career in New Jersey is through an accelerated program.
A BSN accelerated program will take you 12 to 15 months at most.
However, fastening the career means making a commitment to the studies full-time.
Also, you will have to also make more intensive clinical hours and courses.
The courses in essence affect the cost of tuition.
And they also make the time span of completion longer.
The main requirement to pursue an accelerated program in the state is to attend previously courses in the field.
The rest of the requirements vary from program to program.
When we’re talking about the programs, let’s take a look at some below.
Accelerated ones are available in New Jersey still:
- New Jersey Accelerated BSN Programs
- New Jersey Accelerated MSN Programs
Latest New Jersey NCLEX-RN Pass Rates and Statistics
- Number of Schools Approved from the State is 46
- Test Takers Total Number in 2019 was 3,564
- New Jersey NCLEX-RN 2019 Average Statewide Passing Rate is 91.2%
The Best RN schools in New Jersey
In New Jersey 30 RN schools are waiting for you.
With a variety of programs to pursue, the chances are high to find a good one.
Take your time to read them below.
I hope it helps you locate one soon.
School Name Address Rowan College at Gloucester County 1400 Tanyard Rd, Sewell, NJ 08080 Thomas Edison State University 111 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608 Ramapo College 505 Ramapo Valley Rd, Mahwah, NJ 07430 Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing 1600 Haddon Ave, Camden, NJ 08103 The College of New Jersey 2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing Township, NJ 08628 Holy Name Medical Center 718 Teaneck Rd, Teaneck, NJ 07666 William Paterson University 300 Pompton Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470 Fairleigh Dickinson University 1000 River Rd, Teaneck, NJ 07666 Bloomfield College 467 Franklin St, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 Salem Community College 460 Hollywood Avenue, Carneys Point, NJ 08069 Warren County Community College 475 NJ-57, Washington, NJ 07882 Essex County College 303 University Ave, Newark, NJ 07102 Stockton University 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205-9441 Passaic County Community College 1 College Blvd, Paterson, NJ 07505 County College of Morris 214 Center Grove Rd, Randolph, NJ 07869 Ocean County College 1 College Dr, Toms River, NJ 08754 Hudson County Community College 70 Sip Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306 Mercer County Community College 102 N. Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 St. Francis Medical Center 601 Hamilton Ave., Trenton, NJ 08629 Saint Peter's University 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306
RN Salaries in New Jersey
RN salaries change constantly.
You can see that change in all professions.
But in nursing, this change happens in three forms, as you can see below.
However, the salary depends on other factors too.
To begin with, it depends on the educational level.
The more qualified you are in this aspect, the higher salary you will get.
Other factors are valid as well.
They include skills, work experience, and location.
Annual Salary Range:Location Avg. Annual Salary Newark $72,683 Jersey City $77,011 Paterson $73,383 Elizabeth $72,683 Edison $71,410 Woodbridge $71,410 Dover $73,151 Hamilton $72,662 Trenton $71,919 Camden $68,368 Regional Salary in New Jersey
Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 2,820 $93,670 $45.03 $109,010 $75,740 Ocean City, NJ 550 $86,500 $41.59 $96,850 $64,570 Trenton, NJ 4,320 $96,970 $46.62 $120,770 $79,160 Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ 1,600 $95,030 $45.69 $114,740 $79,250
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.