Consolidating Our RBHS Nursing Programs
April 2, 2014
Members of the Rutgers Community:
As a further benefit of the historic restructuring of medical education that led to the creation of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), I am pleased to announce the launch of a new era in nursing education in New Jersey that will both strengthen nurse training and improve patient care.
This week, the Board of Governors approved a plan to unite the Rutgers College of Nursing, which operates in Newark and New Brunswick, and the legacy UMDNJ School of Nursing’s programs in Newark. As of July 1, 2014, these entities will begin operating as the Rutgers School of Nursing and will award most degrees currently available in Newark and New Brunswick. Both of these programs are already part of RBHS.
As RBHS Chancellor Brian Strom has said, combining these resources will enhance nursing research, the education and training of nurses, the visibility of our Nursing programs, and, most important, the care we provide to the communities we serve.
William Holzemer, the current dean of the College of Nursing, will become dean of the new Rutgers School of Nursing. Susan Salmond, the current dean of the School of Nursing, will become executive vice dean. Under the new structure, academic disciplines within the Rutgers School of Nursing will reside in one of three major areas: Entry to Baccalaureate Nursing Education; Advanced Practice Nursing; and Nursing Science.
The Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden will remain separate and will, in fact, expand its operations by integrating with the current legacy UMDNJ School of Nursing’s program in Stratford. That integration plan is being finalized and will, pending the Board of Governors’ approval, also become effective July 1.
Together, these actions enhance nursing education and training throughout the state and help Rutgers better serve New Jersey. I want to thank the deans, faculty, and administrators of these schools for their leadership in preparing these forward-looking plans.
Sincerely,
Bob Barchi