Seton Hall Nursing Students Bring Care to Veterans at NJ Reentry Health Fair

Students in Seton Hall University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program brought their classroom knowledge into the community, organizing a health fair in partnership with the nonprofit New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) and its Veterans Justice Outreach program on Tuesday, March 25, at the New Jersey Reentry and Veterans Center in Carteret, N.J. The event connected veterans — some formerly incarcerated or recently released from addiction treatment centers — with essential health education and services to support their reentry into society.

The health fair was the culmination of weeks of preparation by B.S.N. students as part of a semester-long clinical course on community health, according to Diane Logan, Ph.D., R.N., undergraduate assistant chair in the College of Nursing (CON). In organizing the event, students coordinated with agencies whose missions include addiction support, cancer and health screenings, hospice care, transitional housing and behavioral health.

“This is an example of a true game changer for the community and showing our students the meaning of service learning and servant leadership,” said Kristi Stinson, Ph.D., R.N., A.P.N.-B.C., interim dean, CON.

To raise awareness ahead of the event, students promoted the health fair on social media and distributed flyers to local businesses. They also developed and presented educational poster boards at the health fair on topics relevant to the veteran and reentry populations, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Our B.S.N. students gained insight into the critical role health agencies play in supporting and improving the lives of underserved communities in our state,” said Logan, who led the initiative alongside Sharon McGreevey, director of veteran services at NJRC, with support from CON faculty Annmarie Sailsman,D.N.P., M.P.H., Kathleen Sternas, Ph.D., R.N.,and Christine Tevlin, D.N.P., R.N.

Participating agencies at the health fair included Center for Hope Hospice Care (Scotch Plains), Horizon NJ Health, NJ Poison Control, Rutgers Cancer Institute and Visions of Hope Recovery Center, among others.

Throughout the semester, B.S.N. students visited a range of community health agencies as part of their coursework. Their clinical experience included taking vital signs, providing health education, completing health assessments and assisting clients with Medicare applications and job résumés.

“This dedicated group of responsible and compassionate nurses has done it all this semester — from assessing veterans’ blood pressure conditions and delivering lectures to clients to stocking, organizing and packing the (food) pantry,” McGreevey noted in a LinkedIn post following the event. “Today, they managed the Veteran and NJRC Health Fair with excellence.”

Founded in 2014, the NJRC is a nonprofit agency providing critically needed services to people returning from state prison, county jail, addiction treatment centers and veterans. Their Veterans Justice Outreach Initiative helps formerly incarcerated veterans access essential medical and behavioral health care, including treatment for addiction and mental health conditions.

About Seton Hall University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program
Seton Hall University College of Nursing launched New Jersey’s first baccalaureate nursing program in 1937. Today, the College remains a leader in contemporary healthcare education, with U.S. News & World Report ranking Seton Hall’s B.S.N. program among the top 17 percent of all undergraduate nursing programs nationwide in its 2025 Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs.

With a rigorous curriculum that unites liberal arts with nursing and offers diverse opportunities for meaningful clinical experiences, the B.S.N. program prepares graduates for the complexities of modern healthcare. In 2024, program graduates achieved a 97.4 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), significantly surpassing the 92 percent national average for first-time, U.S.-educated B.S.N. candidates.

For more on Seton Hall University’s B.S.N. degree and eight graduate nursing programs, click here.

Categories: Faith and Service, Health and Medicine