Press Release
July 30, 2007
Contact: Lynn McFarlane
(973) 972-8539
mcfarlld@umdnj.edu
UMDNJ Receives $1.7 Million in Federal
Grants for Nursing Education Programs
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NEWARK — The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has received two federal grants totaling nearly $1.7 million for two of its nursing education programs. The grants will support continued development of a master’s program in clinical leadership and a master’s program that offers nurses several options for specializing in women’s health.
The UMDNJ-School of Nursing was awarded $894,726 to support the development of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) track of its Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program, which the school implemented as part of a national pilot project. Since it began in May 2006, the CNL program at UMDNJ has grown to include partnerships with 14 healthcare facilities including UMDNJ-University Hospital.
“Our CNL program is preparing nurses at these facilities with advanced clinical, communication, leadership and evidence-based practice skills to provide culturally competent care to diverse populations,” said Dr. Susan Salmond, interim dean and grant project director. “Clinical Nurse Leaders will oversee and coordinate the care of groups of patients, evaluate patient and organizational outcomes, contribute to and provide direct patient care in complex situations.”
Graduates of the UMDNJ program will be eligible for certification as Clinical Nurse Leader by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which is leading the pilot project.
The nursing school received $797,771 for its new Women’s Health Program, which offers education options that prepare nurses to provide primary and reproductive care to women across the lifespan. The program includes nurse practitioner specialty tracks in women’s, adult and geriatric health, as well as the nurse midwifery track, and dual track combinations. Dr. Mary Kamienski, assistant dean for graduate studies and project director for this grant, said “We are offering nurses a unique opportunity to advance their knowledge and clinical skills, while expanding their career options.”
The two grants, which total $1,692,497 to be paid over three years beginning July 1, 2007, were awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Charged with improving access to quality healthcare for uninsured, underserved and special needs populations, the agency operates several grant programs that aim to strengthen the nursing workforce by supporting nursing education.
The federal funds will subsidize faculty salaries and other expenses for the two programs, explained Dr. Susan Salmond. “HRSA encourages schools to implement leading-edge programs that prepare nurses to provide the best possible patient care. As a state leader in advanced nursing education, UMDNJ is in the forefront of these efforts.”
UMDNJ is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,700 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and its only school of public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more than two million patient visits to UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.
