William Paterson University, which has one of the largest nursing programs in the state, has announced the establishment of a new school of nursing, offering degrees on the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
The ongoing nursing shortage was a driving force in the creation of the school, Joshua Powers, provost of the university, said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “Right now, the estimates are that there are about 13,000 unfilled nursing positions around the state,” he said. “And we see tremendous opportunity and need to address that particular challenge.”
Partnerships with area heath providers are critical, Powers said, “in part because of the need for clinical sites where students can go have an opportunity to learn within the hospital and all that goes along with that.”
