Ramapo and Bergen New Bridge build on a longstanding partnership to prepare the next generation of nurses 

September 21, 2026

Two Ramapo College nursing students know firsthand what can happen when classroom learning extends into a healthcare setting.

Aamena Ismail ’29, a second-year nursing student from Teaneck, spent the summer gaining hands-on experience through Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s CNA externship program. For the Bergen County student, the experience transformed skills she had only begun learning in the classroom into patient care she could see and practice firsthand.

“From not being able to check a pulse, to now taking vitals and helping patients with Activities of Daily Living, New Bridge has given me the opportunity to grow as a student and improve my patient care skills,” said Ismail.

Ava Picinic ’29, also a second-year nursing student, participated in the externship as well. A resident of Sparta in Sussex County, Ava chose Ramapo with a clear goal: to become a nurse who could care for people’s loved ones and serve as a support system for patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

She described the externship as a “golden opportunity” to “see firsthand the importance of nursing and what it truly means to be there for people when they need it most.”

Their experiences represent the kind of hands-on learning that Ramapo College and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center are seeking to expand through a new collaboration designed to strengthen New Jersey’s healthcare workforce.

The organizations formalized the expanded partnership on September 17, 2026, during a signing ceremony at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, coinciding with World Patient Safety Day.

Under the new agreement, Bergen New Bridge has designated Ramapo as a preferred higher education partner and will collaborate with the College to expand clinical education, experiential learning, professional development and career pathways for students. The agreement also provides eligible Bergen New Bridge employees with a 25% tuition discount when pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Ramapo.

“Preparing healthcare professionals requires more than what happens in a classroom,” said Ramapo College President Cindy R. Jebb. “Our partnerships with healthcare providers give students the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals, develop their skills and understand the difference they can make in the lives of patients and their families.”

For Ramapo nursing students, the partnership provides opportunities to learn in active healthcare environments alongside experienced professionals and connect what they learn in the classroom with the realities of patient care.

“Such an experience early in their nursing education provides them a reality-focused view of their future career.  This is important as many students really do not know what nursing actually entails,” shared Ramapo College Assistant Dean and Professor of Nursing Kathleen Burke, PhD, RN, CPHQ, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt -HC.

The expanded agreement builds on a relationship between Ramapo and Bergen New Bridge that has already given nursing students opportunities to serve alongside healthcare professionals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, Ramapo nursing students worked with New Bridge nurses to administer vaccines to members of the community as part of the region’s response to the public health crisis. 

Today, the relationship continues to create opportunities for students like Aamena and Ava to gain experience before entering the nursing profession.

For Bergen New Bridge employees, the expanded partnership offers another pathway to advance their education and careers. Eligible employees pursuing graduate nursing degrees at Ramapo can receive a 25% tuition discount, supporting nurses who want to deepen their expertise and prepare for expanded professional and leadership roles.

The collaboration reflects a shared interest in developing healthcare professionals at multiple points along the educational and career continuum — from students gaining their first patient-care experiences to practicing nurses pursuing advanced degrees.

“Bergen County’s strength depends on the people who care for our residents, and we must invest in preparing the professionals who will carry that work forward,” said Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III. “This partnership creates meaningful opportunities for students and working professionals while building a stronger healthcare workforce right here in our community.”

Ramapo offers undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for careers across the healthcare and human services fields, including nursing, social work, healthcare administration and pre-health. Its nursing programs emphasize experiential learning and clinical preparation, giving students opportunities to apply their knowledge in professional settings as they prepare to enter the healthcare workforce.

For Aamena and Ava, that preparation is already taking shape — not only in the classroom, but through experiences that bring them closer to the patients and professionals they hope to serve.

For more information about healthcare programs offered at Ramapo, please visit the following websites:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Master of Science in Nursing
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Social Work
• Master of Science in Social Work
• Pre-Health programs in medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and clinical lab science