Message from the Dean

Thank you for your interest in the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing at Thomas Edison State College.

As both a registered nurse and a nurse educator, I have invested most of my career working with students, like you, who are interested in returning to college to either complete their degree or earn a graduate degree, in order to advance their career.

Since 1972, the College's mission has focused on providing flexible, high-quality learning opportunities for self-directed adults.

Since 1983, the School of Nursing has offered a self-paced, flexible Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program for Registered Nurses (RNs) that has few pre-requisites, and no time limit for degree completion. During this time, the program has grown in enrollment, and transitioned from an examination-based program to an online mentored program. Our RN to BSN degree program is one of the largest online RN-BSN degree programs in the country.

Building on this success and to further accommodate the needs of RNs for advanced study, the RN-BSN degree program can be customized to an online RN-BSN/MSN degree program. Academic excellence, convenience and flexibility have always been the hallmarks of our BSN program, and the RN-BSN/MSN degree program is built upon the same model. RNs may enter the program as graduates of associate degree and diploma programs of nursing (RN-BSN/MSN option), or as BSN degree graduates (BSN-MSN option). In the RN-BSN/MSN program, a BSN degree will be awarded on completion of BSN degree requirements, which include nine graduate nursing credits. Those students enrolled in the RN-BSN/MSN degree option will continue on to complete MSN degree requirements.

For students who have already completed a bachelor's degree and wish to become a Registered Nurse, the School of Nursing offers a one-year BSN degree program designed for adults who already possess a bachelor's degree (non-nursing) completed prior to admission and who are interested in becoming registered nurses.

In addition, RNs with a master's degree in nursing may enroll in a 12-to-18 graduate credit Graduate Nursing Certificate program. All programs in the School of Nursing offer open and rolling admissions, flexible credit earning options, no residency requirements and no time limit for degree completion. All online nursing courses are offered quarterly in 12-week terms.

I wish you success in all of your academic endeavors and look forward to helping you accomplish your educational goals.

If you would like to speak with an admissions counselor please contact us at (888) 442-8372 or via e-mail at info@tesc.edu.

Sincerely,
Susan M. O'Brien, Ed.D., R.N.
Dean, School of Nursing