Chamberlain College of Nursing has announced its newest campus in North Brunswick, New Jersey. The North Brunswick campus is located near the New Jersey seacoast just 45 minutes from New York City, and will provide greater access to bachelor’s degree education for prospective nursing students in the tri-state area.

Nurses are in high demand in New Jersey; industry estimates suggest that there will be a state shortage of more than 40,000 nurses by the end of 2020.[i] The impending shortage is fueled by an aging nursing workforce – approximately one-third of New Jersey registered nurses (RNs) will retire in the next 10 years[ii] – coinciding with an aging population, according to the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing.[iii] As the state’s growing proportion of residents over age 65, which is projected to reach 22 percent by 2032, age, they face more chronic diseases and added healthcare costs,[iv] leading to more demands on healthcare.

Between 2010 and 2020, healthcare is projected to add nearly 62,000 jobs in New Jersey, making it one of the fastest-growing industries in the state.[v] In Middlesex County, home to Chamberlain’s new North Brunswick campus, healthcare employment is projected to increase by 8,100 jobs from 2008 to 2018.[vi] Chamberlain’s new campus is positioned to help meet the workforce needs of New Jersey by providing opportunities to those interested in entering the nursing profession.

“Chamberlain will create new opportunities for qualified students to develop the skills needed for successful and fulfilling nursing careers, and for lifelong learning,” said Susan Groenwald, Ph.D., RN, ANEF, FAAN, national president of Chamberlain College of Nursing. “Chamberlain faculty combine superior nursing education with a small community feel, offering care and personalized support to prepare extraordinary nurses who will bring compassionate care and exceptional patient engagement to New Jersey’s healthcare system.”

Location and features

Co-located with DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management at 630 U.S. Highway One, Chamberlain’s North Brunswick campus offers an on-site Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program that can be completed in as few as three years of year-round, full-time study instead of the typical four years with summers off. It features Chamberlain’s SIMCARE CENTER™, which provides high-tech simulated patient care in clinical learning environments, and a Center for Academic Success, which delivers comprehensive academic resources and support for students. The education experience is grounded in Chamberlain Care, the extraordinary service Chamberlain colleagues provide to each other and to students to help them achieve their goals and make tangible differences in patient care. This academic success model prepares graduates to advance the nursing profession by exemplifying care and service within the healthcare setting.

The North Brunswick campus is Chamberlain’s 17th location nationwide and will be led by Robin Goodrich, Ed.D., MS, RN, who brings more than 25 years of experience to the position. She previously served as associate dean and associate professor in the Colleges of Health Professions and Arts and Sciences at Davenport University in Michigan, and adjunct assistant professor of nursing education at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York. Dr. Goodrich earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Science in nursing from Western Connecticut State University and a Doctor of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

“I look forward to opening Chamberlain’s doors in May,” said Dr. Goodrich. “Our North Brunswick campus brings a new type of nursing program to the tri-state area of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. The resources we provide to students are unmatched. As a single-purpose institution, Chamberlain’s dedication to advancing the nursing profession and nurturing a caring culture permeates the organization. It creates a sense of community for students, giving them a platform for success as extraordinary nurse graduates who will transform healthcare for the community and beyond.”

Open house information

Open houses for prospective students will be held at the North Brunswick campus Tuesday, March 3; Thursday, March 5; Tuesday, April 7; Thursday, April 9; and Thursday, June 4 from 4–7 p.m. For more information about Chamberlain College of Nursing’s North Brunswick campus or to RSVP, visit chamberlain.edu/northbrunswick.

[i] New Jersey Nursing Initiative, The Nursing Shortage and New Jersey. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Web. Nov. 2012. <http://www.njni.org/factsheet/nursing-shortage-and-new-jersey>.

[ii] New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, It’s About Time: An Analysis of the Aging New Jersey Nurse Workforce. Web. Dec. 2013. < http://www.njccn.org/sites/default/files/news/attachments/a_report_to_the_governor_2013.pdf>.

[iii] New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, It’s About Time: An Analysis of the Aging New Jersey Nurse Workforce. Web. Dec. 2013. < http://www.njccn.org/sites/default/files/news/attachments/a_report_to_the_governor_2013.pdf>.

[iv] New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, New Jersey’s Health Care Cluster. Web. Spring 2014. <http://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/pub/empecon/healthcare.pdf>.

[v] New Jersey’s Unified Workforce, New Jersey’s Unified Workforce Investment Plan. Page 25. Web, July 2012 to June 2017. <http://www.njsetc.net/njsetc/planning/unified/documents/NJ%20Unified%20Workforce%20Investment%20Plan%202012-2017.pdf>.

[vi] The Board of Education of the Vocational and Technical High Schools, Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Year Ended June 30, 2013. Page 8. Web, June 20, 2013. <http://www.state.nj.us/education/finance/fp/cafr/search/13/3150.pdf>.

By Ryan Segovich