TESU Celebrates Nurses Month During May 2023 and Launches the Salute to RNs Scholarship Program

The W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions is commemorating Nurses Month during May and celebrating its Accelerated BSN Program, RN to BSN, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students and alumni.

Because the University understands the importance of supporting nurses in their professional development, a Salute to RNs Scholarship program launch coincides with the celebration.

"Nurses Week gives us an opportunity to spotlight the work of our nursing students and alumni and their commitment to their patients, their education, our communities, and the healthcare system," noted Dr. Ruth A. Wittmann-Price, dean of the school. "It is fitting and a bit exhilarating that my first official week on campus as a new dean coincided with the kick-off of this important month."

During the month, a series of TESU blog articles authored by the school’s course mentors and nurse educators will promote this year’s themes of self-care, recognition of fellow nurses, professional development, and community engagement. The University’s Salute to RNs Scholarship will support undergraduate-level RNs in their academic pursuits and advancing in their professions.

According to its website, the American Nurses Association (ANA) originally declared May 6 to May 12 as a week to celebrate nurses in 1993. Today, Nurses Month is intended to celebrate the field in increasingly meaningful ways and enhance the understanding of the value of nurse professionals. By continuing to elevate the profession, the ANA hopes to spur greater support and increase the capacity of the nursing workforce.

"We are proud to play a role in the career progression of our pre-licensure, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral-level nurse professionals," said Dr. Lia van Rijswijk, chief nursing administrator of the school. "They are immensely deserving of this recognition, and we convey our best wishes for their continued success. Every day through their work, nurses influence the lives of others in extraordinary ways."

The Accelerated BSN Program’s recent National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) first-time pass rates are a validation of the school's ongoing effectiveness in preparing pre-licensure nurses for the exam. According to data in the New Jersey Board of Nursing’s recently published 2022 NCLEX-RN Program Report on fourth-quarter first-time pass rates, the average first-time pass rate for TESU’s Accelerated BSN Program students is 90 percent (p. 54). The average first-time pass rate across all graduating cohorts since the program’s inception in 2010 is 94 percent.