A new partnership between Rowan University and Holy Name Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing promises to fast-track nursing students into bachelor’s degrees while tackling a growing workforce shortage.
The program, announced Tuesday, March 17, creates a dual-enrollment pathway allowing students to begin earning credits toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) while completing their initial nursing diploma, cutting down on time and costs to further advancements.
The initiative comes at a critical moment, as healthcare systems across New Jersey and the nation continue to face staffing shortages and an increasing demand for highly educated nurses. By integrating coursework early, the partnership aims to streamline what has traditionally been a fragmented and often costly process.
“This is about creating a clear path forward,” said Maria Nadelstumph, associate vice president for Workforce Development & Healthcare Strategy at Rowan. “Our students deserve every opportunity to grow, to advance, and lead in a healthcare environment that increasingly demands and rewards higher education.”
Through the program, students complete their clinical training and core coursework at Holy Name while simultaneously taking online general education and science courses through Rowan. By the time they graduate and earn their RN licensure, they have already completed much of the coursework required for a BSN, allowing them to transition directly into Rowan’s fully online RN-to-BSN program.
“The beginning is Holy Name, the end is Rowan, and we are in this partnership together,” said Donna M. Penn, director at Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing.
“Nadelstumph emphasized accessibility to the program’s design, particularly as many nursing students face financial and time constraints. “We watch job education, and or financial stability,” said Nadelstumph. “This program prioritizes all three.”
The door improvement structures redundancy but eliminates repetitive coursework and shortens the overall timeline to degree completion, two of the most common barriers preventing registered nurses from advancing their education.
“If we want to assess the nursing shortage, we just make it more accessible for students to continue their education,” said Nadelstumph. “This program recognizes students’ needs while strengthening the profession overall.”
The partnership builds on an eco-relationship between Rowan University and Holy Name Medical Center, with both institutions empathizing shared values around student-centered education and long-term career development.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to preparing the next generation of nurses through accessible, high-quality education,” said Michele Acito, executive vice president and chief nursing officer at Holy Name. “By aligning our programs with Rowan University’s academic pathways, we are creating a seamless student-centered approach that supports professional growth while strengthening the nursing workforce.”
Expanding that collaboration into the nursing school allows students to be supported earlier in their academic and professional journeys, while also helping healthcare systems address long-term staffing challenges.
Throughout the program, Rowan Online students will work directly with coaches and will work directly with students, providing guidance and support from enrollment through graduation. That added layer of support is designed to help students navigate their busy lives and responsibilities.
For Nadelstumph, the impact of the program extends beyond academics.
“A BSN can change a student’s entire trajectory both professionally and personally,” said Nadelstumph. “This is about creating opportunities that last well beyond graduation.”
The program is set to launch in the fall later this year and is expected to enroll between 85 and 90 students within the RN program, along with approximately 15 students in the LPN track.
Overall, university leaders hope the initiative could also serve as a model for future partnerships as Rowan continues expanding its collaboration with healthcare organizations across the region.
As the demand for nurses continues to rise, programs like this aim to remove those barriers, accelerate education, and ultimately place more qualified professionals into the workforce faster.
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