If you are searching for graduate degree programs to take your nursing career to the next level and build more specialized career opportunities, then you should keep in mind the numerous top-notch Master’s in Nursing degree programs in New Jersey. As the 11th most populous, fourth smallest, and most densely populated state in the United States, New Jersey is ideally located in the geographic center of the Northeastern megalopolis with Boston and New York City to the northeast as well as Philadelphia and our nations’ capital to the southwest.
As a result, it is no surprise that New Jersey is also a hub of career opportunities, including in the healthcare, mental health, and pharmaceutical industries. After all, New Jersey was recently distinguished for being the second wealthiest state by median household income in the nation. For those seeking to take advantage of being located in the heart of the Northeast, the following are the first half (A-Q) graduate degree programs that lead to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree that has been fully accredited for excellence in the “Garden State.”
College of Saint Elizabeth
School of Health and Wellness Studies
First established by the Sisters of Charity in 1899 as the first four-year Catholic liberal arts college for women in the state of New Jersey, the College of Saint Elizabeth is situated on a beautiful 200-acre suburban campus in historical Morris County within an hour’s train ride away from one of the greatest cities in the world – New York City. With proud partnerships at the major healthcare institutions of Valley Health Systems, Trinitas Hospital, and Atlantic Health System, the School of Health and Wellness is nationally acclaimed for offering the 411th best graduate nursing degree programs in the entire nation by the U.S. News and World Report.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Nursing Education (NE) – Committed to educating registered nurses through scholarship and critical inquiry to become leaders in the spirit of service by restoring health to patients and educating the future generation of nurses, the MSN Nursing Education (NE) track is designed to be completed on a part-time basis with seven-week sessions and supplemental clinical practice. Within the 37-credit program, students will take courses in nursing research, human service leadership, advanced nursing practice, clinical interventions, curriculum development, assessment/evaluation, pedagogical strategies, and practicum in health teaching.
Accreditations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
Henderson Hall 2nd Floor
2 Convent Rd.
Morristown, NJ 07960
(973) 290-4037
[email protected]
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health
Based on a 266-acre suburban campus at Florham in the town of Madison with a satellite location in the metropolitan downtown hub of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University is the state’s largest comprehensive four-year private institution with more than 12,000 students in over 100 degree programs. Well-known for being the first university in the nation to own an overseas campus in 1965, FDU is now ranked as the 69th best college in the North by the U.S. News and World Report. Even more importantly, the Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health is nationally recognized for hosting the 295th best graduate nursing degree programs in the United States.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) – Designed to provide students with the opportunity to select a role specialization in education or administration, the MSN Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) program track requires the completion of at least 39 credits to prepare registered nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to diagnose as well as treat adult patients from adolescence through late adulthood with a broad range of medical conditions.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Intended to fulfill all of the advanced practice nursing degree requirements needed to take the national certification examination to become qualified for diagnosing and treating patients across the lifespan with a wide variety of medical conditions, the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) consists of 38 credits and 640 clinical hours to gain expertise in pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology, nursing philosophies, advanced nursing research, primary care, and family systems.
MSN Forensic Nursing – Focused on applying scientific empirical-based nursing knowledge to the delivery of sensitive care for survivors of traumatic injuries, victims of violence, perpetrators of crimes, or death investigations, the MSN Forensic Nursing track requires the completion of 42 credits in which students may elect to choose a specialization in the areas of domestic violence, child and elder abuse, and emergency trauma.
MSN Nursing Education (NE) – With the mission of training registered nurses to become teachers in collegiate programs leading to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing, the 33-credit MSN Nursing Education (NE) program track includes a preceptor teaching practicum that can be individually customized to meet students’ goals and expose them to all aspects of the faculty academic/clinical teaching roles available on college campuses.
MSN Nursing Information Systems – Ideal for registered nurses who are interested in combining their expertise in clinical nursing with computer science and information technology, the MSN Nursing Information Systems track consists of 32 credits that are focused on assisting students in the management of nursing data to support clinical practice as well as improve the overall delivery of nursing care for enhanced patient outcomes.
MSN Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – As a 43-credit track that seamlessly incorporates nursing theories, advanced nursing research, pharmacology, health assessment, psychopharmacology, mental health nursing, pathophysiology, family systems, advanced practice role development, and practicum, the MSN Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program qualifies graduates to sit for national certification to diagnose and treat patients across the lifespan with a broad range of mental illnesses as well as co-morbid medical conditions.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
1000 River Rd.
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 692-2882
[email protected]
https://www.fdu.edu/program/msn-nursing/
Felician College
School of Nursing
Headquartered on a beautiful 27-acre suburban campus in the heart of Lodi within miles away from New York City with a satellite location in Rutherford, Felician College is a comprehensive independent co-educational Catholic and Franciscan institution that offers a well-rounded liberal arts education to more than 1,775 students. As one of just 30 Franciscan colleges nationwide and the only one in New Jersey, Felician College has recently been recognized for producing competent graduates with the ninth highest median starting salary in the nation by Payscale. Furthermore, the School of Nursing is nationally renowned for offering the 390th best graduate nursing degree programs in various specialty areas.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) – Designed to qualify graduates to apply for national certification from the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) within as little as two years, the MSN Adult/Gerntology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) track involves 43 credits and 600 clinical in on-campus residencies to prepare registered nurses for integrating nursing science into primary care to meet the unique medical needs of patients throughout adulthood.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – As an innovative online program that requires the completion of at least 46 credits and 780 clinical hours under the guidance of qualified faculty with minimal on-campus residency requirements, the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program track is offered to registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing who are looking to advance their career as a primary care provider for individuals and families across the lifespan from infancy to late adulthood.
MSN Nursing Education – With the goal of preparing registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a professionally accredited academic institution to assume leadership roles in high education as teachers at colleges, universities, and healthcare organizations, the MSN Nursing Education track consists of 42 credits as well as 60 clinical hours and 60 teaching practicum hours to build on clinical expertise for becoming a certified nurse educator.
MSN Nursing Executive Leadership – Based on the competencies established by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) to develop the skills needed to become a clinical nurse leader in today’s changing healthcare industry, the cohort-based MSN Nursing Executive Leadership track combines 36 credits with 500 project hours in a hybrid experiential learning environment that blends traditional classroom learning with online coursework.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
262 South Main St.
Lodi, NJ 07644
(201) 559-6062
[email protected]
https://felician.edu/academics/school-of-nursing/
Kean University
School of Nursing
As a vibrant private cosmopolitan institution of the liberal arts and sciences with a rich history in higher education that spans more than 150 years, Kean University is conveniently based on an 186-acre suburban campus in the center of Union County within just a half hour from New York City and an hour from Philadelphia. Although the university is best known for producing more teachers than any other university in the state, the School of Nursing is also highly regarded by the U.S. News and World Report for offering the 332nd best graduate nursing degree programs in the entire country.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Clinical Management – With the objective of preparing registered nurses with the expertise needed for systems planning and protocols of care development which are responsive to culturally diverse healthcare and patient populations, the MSN Clinical Management track consists of 36 credits that uniquely combine trans-cultural nursing care with managerial skills to qualify graduates for fulfilling upper-level management or leadership roles in clinical arenas.
MSN Community Health Nursing – Structured for registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees in nursing who are seeking in-depth knowledge and skills related to advanced practice nursing roles in community health within a trans-cultural context for leadership in today’s diverse healthcare organizations, the 39-credit MSN Community Health Nursing program track can be completed either full-time or part-time on the main Union campus or the Kean Ocean campus in Tom’s River with at least five clinical hours each week.
MSN School Nursing – As the only graduate nursing program in central New Jersey dedicated to preparing registered nurses to be well-qualified to respond to the healthcare needs of the state’s school districts as either instructional school nurses and/or supervisors of school health services, the MSN School Nursing program requires the completion of at least 39 credits focused on a trans-cultural approach for school community health nursing.
Accreditations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
Townsend Building Room 116
1000 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
(908) 737-3390
[email protected]
https://www.kean.edu/academics/programs/nursing-msn
Monmouth University
Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies
Strategically positioned on a 156-acre suburban campus in the town of West Long Branch within the New York City metropolitan area surrounded by prominent industry-leading healthcare organizations, Monmouth University is a dynamic four-year private institution with a close-knit diverse community of just over 6,000 students. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Monmouth is currently ranked as the 30th best college and 9th top university for military veterans in the North. With full accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for excellence, the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies is also recognized for having the 332nd best graduate nursing degree programs in the United States.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Advanced Practice Nursing – Due the growing demand for psychiatric advanced practice nurses for leadership roles in outpatient clinics, acute inpatient centers, partial day programs, prisons, long-term care facilities, substance abuse treatment clinics, and private practices, the MSN Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Advanced Practice Nursing program follows a 48-credit sequence to prepare registered nurses to provide comprehensive mental and physical assessment as well as diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses for patients throughout adulthood.
MSN Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) – Designed to help students develop confidence in their intellectual and clinical proficiency with the broad knowledge base needed for advanced practice nursing in today’s ever-changing healthcare environment, the MSN Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) program track consists of 42 credits focused on the skills necessary for treating the primary healthcare needs of patients from adolescence through late adulthood with leadership.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – As a 45-credit program that includes coursework on health informatics, nursing research, data management, pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology, primary care, pediatrics, family systems, diagnosis/assessment, and advanced nursing practicum, the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track places an emphasis on building the knowledge and skills necessary for providing care to patients across the lifespan with acute and chronic illnesses in a family-oriented approach to medicine.
MSN Forensic Nursing – Since healthcare providers are increasingly called to work with law enforcement personnel to apply nursing science to legal proceedings in criminal investigations by documenting evidence and testifying in court, the MSN Forensic Nursing track requires the completion of at least 39 credits covering the study of interpersonal violence, forensic evidence, nursing ethics, child/elder abuse assessment, risk reduction strategies, domestic violence intervention, sexual assault examination, and mass disaster response.
MSN Nursing Administration – Offered in partnership with the Leon Hess Business School to provide a concentration of three courses in economics, financial accounting, and management along with a strong core of advanced nursing coursework, the 36-credit MSN Nursing Administration track is designed to effectively deliver the essential knowledge and leadership skills needed to prepare graduates for practicing at the executive level in a wide range of healthcare organizations across the health delivery continuum.
MSN Nursing Education – Ideal for registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution who are seeking to combine their clinical experience with their passion for teaching a new generation of nurses, the MSN Nursing Education program track follows a 36-credit sequence focused on the advanced role of nurse educator to prepare students to teach both didactic and clinical nursing courses at the collegiate level.
MSN School Nursing – Available for both certified school nurses as well as nurses seeking initial certification for providing healthcare services to school-aged children, the MSN School Nursing track consists of at least 30 credits addressing the latest legislative amendments, school board policy changes, and rising enrollment of medically fragile children to allow school nurses to take on the more complex leadership role of being a health advocate in schools.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
McAllan Hall Room 332
400 Cedar Avenue
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 571-3443
[email protected]
https://www.monmouth.edu/school-of-nursing-health/graduate-nursing-programs.aspx
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
School of Nursing
First founded in 1950 by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegheny to serve the greater Camden community in southern New Jersey across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center has evolved into a leading general medical and surgical center for cardiac services as well as kidney, pancreas, and liver transplants in the region. Based on Christian values, the School of Nursing is dedicated to building a student-centered environment that develops competent, compassionate, and knowledgeable professional nurses for serving those in need. Within such a dynamic healthcare system, the School provides abundant clinical training opportunities with high-acuity patients in nursing rotations as well as state-of-the-art multimedia exposure to complex cases in clinical simulation laboratories.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) – Affiliated with Drexel University under the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions to offer a fully accredited master’s degree in the specialty area of anesthesia, the MSN Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) is designed to prepare registered nurses for assuming the advanced practice leadership role of competent and independent practitioners of nurse anesthesia care. As a 27-month 94-credit program that begins each April, the curriculum seamlessly blends didactic learning in the classroom with world-class clinical practicum at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center to closely examine specific areas of anesthetic management as well as current issues in anesthesia.
Accreditations
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (CANAEP)
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Contact Information
Pavilion Center 3rd Floor
1600 Haddon Avenue
Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 757-3726
[email protected]
http://www.lourdesnursingschool.org/
Within today’s ever-changing healthcare marketplace, it is highly recommended that registered nurses at the baccalaureate level further their education by earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree within advanced practice nursing. Not only do master’s-level nurses provide higher quality patient care, but having an MSN can go a long ways towards receiving a higher salary, greater employability, stronger job stability, enhanced job satisfaction, and more credentials for leadership positions. Whether you are a native New Jerseyan or are considering moving to the “Garden State,” be sure to check out these accredited Master’s in Nursing degree programs in New Jersey to advance your clinical expertise in a wide variety of areas for specialization.