First BAYADA Scholars Cohort Begins Innovative Accelerated Nursing Track at Thomas Edison State University and Cooper University Health Care

A revolution in nursing education is underway for the first group of students enrolled in the newly introduced 15-month Thomas Edison State University (TESU) Accelerated BSN BAYADA Scholars Track at Cooper University Health Care (Cooper).

Announced in May, the BAYADA Scholars Track at Cooper is designed to help alleviate the nursing shortage in New Jersey and create more exceptional nurses for the community. Students in this track of TESU's Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing program will complete most of their clinical experiences at Cooper University Hospital, a leading academic medical center that is home to the region's busiest Level I trauma center.

TESU's Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing program is designed for students who have completed their undergraduate studies and are looking to transition into a career in nursing. The first group of students participating in the BAYADA Scholars Track come from a wide range of academic and professional fields, such as psychology, human services, and chemical biology.

The partnership was organized by BAYADA Education, a new nonprofit organization created by a $5 million donation from Ann and Mark Baiada. Mr. Baiada is the founder and chairman of BAYADA Home Health Care.

"I am so excited to see this innovative partnership in nursing education come to life! The first class of BAYADA Scholars beginning their studies marks an important milestone in our mission to bring more great nurses into the world. This group of extraordinary nursing students will graduate prepared to thrive in the modern health care environment," Mark Baiada said.

Students recently started their hybrid learning experience and will begin their clinical training rotations at Cooper University Hospital this month.

When reflecting on his first week, Ibrahim Jabbie, a nursing student in the first BAYADA Scholars Track cohort, emphasized the importance of the clinical training he'll experience at Cooper.

"I really wanted to learn in a best-in-class facility, and training at Cooper has allowed me to do that. With the small class size, we've had a lot of personalized attention. When I become a nurse, I think the transition will be much easier for me because of my training at Cooper."

Ibrahim, who previously completed his degree in agricultural economics, was inspired to pursue nursing by his wife, who recently completed nursing school herself. He joins a diverse group of students who are beginning their hands-on training in a state-of-the-art medical simulation lab.

"As a leading academic health system, we provide nursing students exceptional clinical training from a diverse group of expert physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses, who have significant experience treating and caring for critically ill and injured patients," said Kathy Devine, DrNP, RN, NEA-BC, SVP and chief nursing executive at Cooper. "Our goal is to create an extraordinary clinical experience for these nursing students so they will be prepared to make a difference on day one as a nurse."

For those pursuing a career in nursing, the TESU Accelerated BSN BAYADA Scholars Track at Cooper presents a range of opportunities. Students benefit from a unique clinical experience that positions students on a patient care floor at Cooper University Hospital just weeks after starting the program. Students are paired with experienced Cooper nurses in clinical rotations and get the opportunity to learn side-by-side from Cooper's experts on topics ranging from infection prevention to wound care. This firsthand approach to clinical education seeks to quickly prepare nurses to thrive in modern health care environments.

"This partnership directly addresses New Jersey's critical need for skilled nurses by providing an accelerated pathway for individuals to enter the healthcare workforce," said Merodie A. Hancock, PhD, president of TESU. "By combining TESU's innovative educational model with Cooper's exceptional clinical training and BAYADA Education's on-site support, we are empowering students to gain the hands-on experience needed to meet the evolving health care demands in our state. These future nurses will play a vital role in supporting the health and wellness of our communities."

This innovative collaborative approach is the first of its kind in nursing education. The students' clinical experiences will be hosted by Cooper University Health Care, a leading academic health system and home to the region's busiest Level I trauma center, and BAYADA Home Health Care, a leading national provider of complex care at home. Cooper has committed that students who meet the rigorous academic requirements of the program, pass the nursing licensure exam, and meet standardized employment criteria will receive a job offer from Cooper to begin their nursing career there after graduation. Scholarship opportunities will also make the program affordable to more students.

For those interested in a career in nursing, The BAYADA Scholars Track at Cooper is taking applications for the next group of students who want to begin their journey as early as January 2025. For more information about opportunities, they can learn more about the program and apply at bayadaeducation.org.

About the Innovative Partners:

Thomas Edison State University (TESU)

When Thomas Edison State University was chartered in 1972, it embraced a radical mission: to reimagine higher education for adults. The challenge was to design a new institution that embraced new approaches to improve access and respond to the needs of working adult students. TESU became part of a national movement to launch innovative institutions to serve adult learners, transforming the lives of thousands of students while changing the course of higher education.

As TESU moves into its next 50 years of excellence, higher education is once again in need of reinvention. This partnership with BAYADA Education is just one of the ways TESU aims to disrupt the industry. Visit TESU.edu/BSNA to learn more.

Cooper University Health Care

Cooper University Health Care, with its MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and affiliation with Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, is a leading academic health system. Cooper has more than 11,000 team members, including nearly 1,600 nurses, more than 1,000 employed physicians, and more than 550 advanced practice providers.

Cooper University Hospital has been recognized as a top-performing regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals annual survey for six years.

Cooper has revenues of more than $2 billion and, along with its new upgraded "A" rating from S&P, recently received an A+ credit rating from Fitch Ratings. Cooper University Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey and the busiest in the region. More than two million patients are served annually at Cooper's 663-bed flagship hospital in Camden and the 229-bed Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional in Cape May Court House.

Cooper's ambulatory network encompasses three outpatient surgery centers, several urgent care centers, a wound care center, and more than 130 physician, physical therapy and radiology offices extending from the Delaware River to the New Jersey shore. Cooper has been named as one of America's Best Employers by Forbes for four consecutive years.

The Cooper Health Sciences campus in Camden, New Jersey, is home to Cooper University Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.

BAYADA Home Health Care

BAYADA Home Health Care Inc. was founded by J. Mark Baiada in 1975 and provides nursing, rehabilitative, therapeutic, habilitation, behavioral health, hospice, and assistive care services to children, adults, and seniors worldwide. Headquartered in the Greater Philadelphia suburbs of New Jersey, BAYADA is a leading nonprofit home health care provider-with hundreds of locations in the US, as well as Germany, India, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Korea-and the only national provider that offers a full range of home-based specialty care services. Visit BAYADA.com to learn more.

BAYADA Education

BAYADA Education Inc. was founded to support and grow the nursing profession. Nursing is the most trusted profession in the country, but our country needs more nurses. And people need meaningful, fulfilling work that supports financial stability for them and their families. BAYADA Education organizes and supports nursing programs, engages in research to further nursing education, and advocates for nursing as a profession. Together, we can bring More Great Nurses to the world. Visit BAYADAEducation.org to learn more.

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