(from left) Dr. Jianping Wang, president of Mercer County Community College, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes and Dr. George A. Pruitt, president of Thomas Edison State University, at the signing ceremony celebrating the new partnership between MCCC and the University.
Mercer County Community College and Thomas Edison State University have created a dual enrollment nursing program that enables students to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in four years.
The program will allow graduates of Mercer’s Nursing Education Program to transfer and apply up to 90 credits to the online RN-BSN program at Thomas Edison State University.
“This partnership provides students the opportunity to earn a BSN degree in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” said Dr. Filomela Marshall, dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing at Thomas Edison State University. “Our collaboration provides a seamless pathway into our RN-BSN program for students in Mercer’s nursing program.”
The program will provide a pipeline of baccalaureate-prepared nurses to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in Trenton, Mercer County and throughout central New Jersey.
“This exciting new agreement with Thomas Edison State University is all about creating choices for students,” said Dr. Jianping Wang, president of Mercer County Community College. “By offering more choices and enabling students to study close to home, more students will complete their education and we create more opportunities for students from a variety of backgrounds and learning styles while allowing them to continue to meet family and work obligations.”
Eligible students enrolled in the dual enrollment program will be granted provisional acceptance to the RN-BSN program at Thomas Edison State University and full acceptance once they complete the associate in science degree from Mercer and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
As they complete the BSN degree, students will be prepared to further advance their education and pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and eventually a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Vi-Anne Antrum, DNP