First Cohort Graduates From Collaborative TESU-BAYADA Accelerated Nursing Program

Students represent a growing movement of second-degree nursing students who are strengthening the workforce throughout the state.

Fifteen months after beginning their nursing education, a cohort of second-bachelor-degree students with backgrounds in fields ranging from biochemistry to psychology will become the first graduates of the Thomas Edison State University Accelerated BSN BAYADA Scholars Track at Cooper University Health Care.

Many of the BAYADA Scholars did not begin their careers in nursing; they arrived as seasoned professionals seeking deeper purpose in their work. Today, they represent a growing movement of second-degree nursing students driven by compassion, excellence and the desire to make an impact.

The BAYADA Scholars Track was created through an innovative partnership between Thomas Edison State University (TESU), Cooper University Health Care and BAYADA Education, a newly formed nonprofit dedicated to preparing exceptional nurses who are prepared to meet the challenges of today’s health care environment. The BAYADA Scholars Track restores one of the most proven and powerful models in nursing education: immersive, hospital-based clinical training that prepares students for the realities of modern practice. This rigorous track in TESU’s Accelerated BSN program places special emphasis on clinical training and leadership, preparing exceptional registered nurses in just 15 months.

“From the beginning, our mantra has been ‘More Great Nurses.’ Our goal is to increase the number of nurses to address the persistent nursing shortage and improve the quality of clinical training,” said Mark Baiada, chairman, BAYADA Education. “When I spend time with the BAYADA Scholars, it is evident how extraordinary the clinical experience has been for them. These students consistently speak highly of their time at Cooper and are entering practice exceptionally well prepared.”

Throughout their 15-month journey, students trained in a leading academic health system side-by-side with Cooper’s expert nurses and educators, gaining confidence and competence through direct, hands-on experience. The students from the first cohort describe feeling fully prepared to begin their professional practice. Several students have taken advantage of the conditional job offer extended to those in the BAYADA Scholars Track and have formally accepted positions with Cooper University Health Care.

“Nurses are at the heart of health care, and investing in their education is investing in the future of our communities,” said Kathy Devine, chief Nursing executive at Cooper. “This innovative partnership ensures that these new nurses enter the profession with confidence, competence and a deep commitment to patient care from day one. We are delighted several graduates have chosen to join our team.”

Students from the BAYADA Scholars Track joined their peers in the standard track at the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions at Thomas Edison State University for a pinning ceremony held at the New Jersey State Museum on Dec. 18.

The ceremony symbolizes the students’ formal entry into the nursing profession after completing the rigorous academic and clinical components of the 15-month program. Graduates are now eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) before officially entering the profession. The TESU program is known for its consistently high NCLEX-RN pass rates and offers prospective students three annual admission cycles.

During the ceremony, Michaela Donnelly from the standard track and Sarah Mansfield from the BAYADA Scholars Track received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students. The award recognizes those who demonstrate compassion and dedication to patient and family care during clinical rotations.

“TESU is proud to join BAYADA Education and Cooper University Health Care in taking meaningful action to address the nursing shortage. Seeing the first cohort successfully complete this innovative pathway affirms the strength of our collaborative nursing programs and the power of this partnership to prepare the skilled nurses our communities urgently need,” said Merodie A. Hancock, Ph.D., president of TESU.

The BAYADA Scholars Track began with a small inaugural class, but interest has grown quickly. Today, 60 students are enrolled, with the largest cohort to date expected to begin in January. The success of this first graduating class is more than a milestone; it’s a glimpse into the future of nursing education. By combining academic excellence, immersive clinical training and real-world employment opportunities, the BAYADA Scholars Track demonstrates how collaboration between universities, leading health systems and mission-driven organizations can create a sustainable pipeline of well-prepared, compassionate nurses ready to meet the region’s health care needs.