Trinitas School of Nursing was recently recognized as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Education for the fourth consecutive time.
At the NLN Education Summit on September 23-25, 2021, Trinitas School of Nursing, represented by Dean Dr. Roseminda Santee, Associate Dean Dr. Connie Kozachek, faculty members Dr. Janine Graf-Kirk, Dr. Dawn Zimmerman, Maryse Annulysse, and Illya DeVera-Bonilla, attended the in-person awards ceremony (postponed from 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic), to accept the school’s fourth designation as an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. The school was first recognized as a COE in 2008. In 2020, Trinitas was one of 17 schools of nursing who received this honor.
“The faculty of the School of Nursing deserves the lion’s share of this award,” said Dr. Roseminda N. Santee, DNP, MA, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, ANEF Dean, Trinitas School of Nursing. “They make it happen. The administration, staff, advisory board, and affiliated agencies provide the support and resources for faculty and students to do their good work.”
Each year since 2004, the League has invited nursing schools to apply to become a Center of Excellence, based on their ability to demonstrate in concrete, measurable terms sustained excellence in faculty development, nursing education research, or student learning and professional development.
NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, said, “NLN Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence. These environments help nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community.”
Dr. Santee added, “This award is the culmination of decades of commitment and dedication by the faculty to the vision of excellence that focuses on the creation of learning environments designed to promote the nursing education and professional development of culturally diverse students. This could not have been accomplished without a plan that also values innovation, civility, integrity, and ethical behavior in all professional activities.”
Trinitas School of Nursing was also honored at the NLN Education Summit as the 2021 CNE Stars by the NLN Certification Commission because of its advocacy for its faculty to attain the credential of certified nurse educator (CNE). Receiving the award on September 25, 2021 was Dr. Roseminda Santee, Dean of Trinitas School of Nursing. Dr. Beverly Malone, president and CEO of the NLN, congratulated Dr. Santee for this honor.
Trinitas School of Nursing
TSON is a Catholic, pre-licensure nursing program located in the city of Elizabeth, an extremely diverse urban community in Union County. In 2018, Elizabeth reported a population of 128,885 with 20% African American, 13% Caucasian individuals and 64% Hispanic individuals. (Quick Facts, Elizabeth, NJ, July 2018)
Diversity is valued by the school as evidenced by the composition of the staff, faculty, and students. Each course in the program has a cultural component that engenders students’ respect for various cultures and individual differences. With seventy-four (74) percent of the students representing ethnic minority groups, the diversity at TSON reflects that of the community in which it resides. In the Spring of 2019, the demographic profile of the school showed that 35% of the students were African American, 9% Asian, 13% Caucasian and 31% Hispanic. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the students are female. (TSON Enrollment Data, 2019)
The current thirteen (13) full-time faculty members and two (2) administrative personnel represent as 20% African American; 7% Asian; 13% Hispanic; and 60% Caucasian. Ninety-three percent (93%) of the administration and faculty members are certified in their areas of expertise.
TSON has a rich history dating back to 1891, when it was the Elizabeth General Hospital Training School. The school’s journey to excellence began in 1947 when the school contracted with the then Union Junior College to offer all science and liberal art courses at the college. The major goals of this partnership were to strengthen the curriculum and to provide opportunities for graduates’ upward mobility to a BSN degree. This contract enhanced the School’s ability to keep abreast of educational and scientific advancement and strengthened the students’ base of knowledge and intellectual skills.
Contact Information
Doug Harris
908-994-5138
dharris@trinitas.org
Yolanda Fleming
908-994-5139