Trinitas School of Nursing has received its second consecutive designation as a Center of Excellence (COE) in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing from 2011 through 2015 under the category of Creating Environments that Enhance Student Learning and Professional Development. The first designation was awarded for the years 2008-2011 under the same category. The re-designation award was presented by Dr. Beverly Malone, CEO of the NLN and Dr. Cathleen Schultz, NLN President, to Dean Marybeth Kelley, LLD, MSN, MEd, RN, CNE, ANEF, and faculty members who attended the NLN Education Summit in Orlando, FL last September 2011.

On January 11, 2012, the School hosted a reception at the Thomas H. Brown Conference Center to celebrate this award. The reception was attended by faculty, student representatives, Trinitas Regional Medical Center senior administrators, representatives from Union County College administration and staff, and community partners such as the Trinitas Health Foundation, Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation and the Summit Area Public Foundation. The mayor of Elizabeth, the Hon. J. Christian Bollwage was also in attendance.

Since 2005 the faculty and administration have committed to a series of long-ranged strategic plans to successfully sustain their efforts to achieve and maintain excellence. The NLN announcement emphasized "the School's commitment to, and support of, academic progression to meet the changing demands of health care, nursing education, and societal needs. A variety of innovative programs at Trinitas comprise a comprehensive plan to prepare diverse and culturally sensitive nursing professionals motivated to continue their education and move into leadership positions in both nursing practice and academia." This plan is accomplished through innovative partnerships with the College of St. Elizabeth and Kean University which provide seamless articulation with the School's program.

The School was also recognized for its continued commitment to support students with all available resources including the use of educational technologies such as simulation-based learning with high-fidelity patient simulators a well as addressing diversity and differences in learning styles. The integration of technology to support teaching strategies has facilitated student learning and professional development.

Each year since 2004, the NLN has invited nursing schools to apply for the designation of Center of Excellence in Nursing Education based on their ability to demonstrate sustained excellence in faculty development, nursing education research, or student learning. There are currently only 17 schools in the United States including Trinitas that hold this prestigious designation. Trinitas was the first cooperative nursing program in the nation and the first in New Jersey to receive this recognition in 2008. It is also the first school of nursing in New Jersey to receive the COE re-designation in 2011. According to Dr. Malone, the NLN Center of Excellence program is a way to "recognize schools that have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and invested resources over a sustained period of time to distinguish themselves in a specific area related to nursing education."

Historically, Trinitas School of Nursing has served the minority populations of the city of Elizabeth and greater Union County and for almost 40 years, the School has been creating and sustaining environments that enhance student learning and professional development. Within the last seven years, its long-range strategic plans have supported and advanced such efforts. The NLN COE re-designation serves as a validation and encouragement to continue its commitment to excellence.

Trinitas School of Nursing hosted the visit of two nurse educators and researchers from Australia on May 23, 2011. Melanie Birks, PhD, RN, MEd, BN and Jane Mills, PhD, are both interested in creating a simulation program at their respective institutions. Dr. Birks is associate professor and Director of Learning and Teaching at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at CQ University Australia and Dr. Mills is Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of School, Cairns Campus School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition at James Cook University. They met with Teresita Proctor, Assistant Dean and Monina Franco-Tantuico, LSC Coordinator who gave them a tour of the Learning/Simulation Center and provided them with information and materials related to simulation-based learning and its integration into the curriculum.

Drs. Birks and Mills are accomplished nurse researchers whose focus is grounded theory and have published extensively. They recently co-authored a book "Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide" published by Sage Publications. When asked how they decided to choose Trinitas School of Nursing's LSC as the place to visit, they did an internet search and found Trinitas had the best credentials, being a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence and the recipient of Laerdal Medical Corporation's Pinnacle Award for Collaboration in Education (PACE Award). The School's website also attracted them to come and see for themselves the physical layout of the LSC and how it operates to serve Trinitas students. They both expressed interest in collaborating with the School on a simulation research project in the future.