About the School
Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university that is one of nine colonial colleges chartered in 1766 before the American Revolution. Rutgers University School of Nursing (RUSON) was initially accredited 70 years ago and in the same year initiated the first psychiatric advanced nursing program in the nation, led by Dr. Hildegard Peplau, which is still running strong today.
Later, in 2013, RUSON went through a major merger between the former Rutgers University College of Nursing and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Nursing. This pinnacle event forced RUSON to find its new identity.
Presently, RUSON reaches across three campuses in Newark, New Brunswick, and Blackwood, New Jersey, with enrollment of over 2,200 students and has one of the largest pre-licensure programs in the nation compared with other research-intensive universities.
As a public institution, our investment in baccalaureate-prepared nurses is crucial to the State of New Jersey, which is forecast to have one of the most significant nursing shortages over the coming decade.
Mission Strategies
Influencing Others: A Regional and National Advocate for Change
RUSON does not merely implement inclusive excellence within its own walls; it serves as a recognized opinion leader and an engine for systemic change across the nursing profession and the State of New Jersey. Our influence is evidenced by our role in policy-making, professional development for the broader nursing community, and the export of our evidence-based models.
One example, led by Dr. Olga Jarrin Montaner and collaborator Dr. Lois Greene at University Hospital-Newark that is more extensive is described below. This project, designed as a research study, has continued to spur other community-engaged projects with our students at the active sites.
- Exporting Leadership: The Multicultural Nursing Leadership Institute (MNLI). Established in 1999, the MNLI is a cornerstone of our influence. By training over 300 early-career nursing professionals from diverse healthcare systems across the region, RUSON has effectively "exported" its ACE framework into the clinical workforce. Impact: The MNLI serves as a regional beacon for leadership development; 60% of MNLI alumni now occupy executive-level leadership positions (CNO, VP, Director) in New Jersey’s Magnet-designated hospitals, where they implement the equity and belonging strategies pioneered at RUSON.
- Scaling Success through the $2.6M RU-ANEW Grant. Our influence is amplified through the RU-ANEW Program, which has created a blueprint for academic-clinical partnerships. By embedding social determinants of health (SDoH) and inclusive excellence modules into 11 advanced practice specialties, we are not just teaching our students; we are providing our clinical partners with a workforce that arrives "equity-ready." This program has become a model for other HRSA-funded institutions seeking to bridge the gap between classroom theory and clinical health equity.
- National Recognition and Dissemination. The RUSON’s outcomes in access, connection, and engagement have been validated by a consistent track record of national accolades. Being named a Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award recipient for four consecutive years and the American Association of Men in Nursing (AAMN) Best Nursing School for Men for eight years in a row positions our community to attract more students who can see themselves flourishing in the nursing profession.
- Community Advocacy: The Nurturing Equity, Wellness, and Resources for Kindness (NEWARK) Health Initiative. In collaboration with University Hospital, RUSON serves as a primary advocate for digital health equity. By training "Community Scientists" and residents in digital literacy, we are influencing the community’s agency in their own care. This project has influenced local health policy by providing data-driven evidence on how digital social care referrals (via MyChart and FindHelp) can reduce preventable emergency department visits, creating a scalable model for urban health systems nationwide.
- Shaping the Future Workforce: "Train the Trainer." The sustainability of our influence is secured through our Train the Trainer program. By preparing faculty and staff to lead critical conversations, we ensure that our advocacy is not dependent on a few individuals, but is an institutionalized competency.