GED. . .BSN. . .MBA. . .PhD. . . for Richard Ridge, those successive degrees occurred amid a naval career, parenthood, and his position as a nurse-manager.

When Richard Ridge left his Boston high school the summer after 10th grade to join the U.S. Navy, he may have done so in order to place some distance between himself and the education system.

"Beginning in the late 1960s, Boston, Massachusett's school system became mired in civil and political unrest as the city struggled toward trying to peacefully desegregate public schools," reflected Ridge "It was tumultuous for students of all races, and a time filled with many distractions. I had heard about the U.S. Navy program in which high school students who had not yet graduated could take the GED exam. It was an appealing alternative for me."

Ridge found his naval career both transformative and character-building.

"Beginning with my service as a submarine sailor in the early 1970's, I gained confidence in my abilities and potential. I learned how to take responsibility for my actions and fit in as a member of a sophisticated and dedicated team. We were completely devoted to the mission. When I transferred to Hospital Corps in 1973, I was introduced to healthcare and all of its disciplines, specialties and opportunities."

Toward the conclusion of his service, he became a senior corpsman in the emergency room at the New London Submarine Hospital in New London, Conn., supervising 15 personnel and working directly with supervising nurses and physicians.

In civilian life immediately following, Ridge earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston while supporting his wife and baby daughter by working in a state psychiatric hospital at night.  "After a variety of positions, another child, and several years of undergraduate education, I received my bachelor of science degree in nursing and began my job as a registered nurse in Boston."

Now an established clinician, Ridge acknowledged that in order to have the full-on nursing career he wanted, furthering his education would be necessary.

"I pursued my MBA at night while working full time as a nurse manager. Interested in pursuing a chief nurse position, I looked for a PhD program willing to accept me without a masters degree in nursing. There were only three in the country. The decision involved relocating my family to Virginia." In 2000, he completed his dissertation.

At Thomas Edison State College, Ridge teaches Health Policy where he finds students "dedicated to their pursuit of higher education and wholeheartedly contributing to their own learning and to others in their courses."

Teaching has also brought Ridge in contact with colleagues from his current position as corporate director of nursing education for Meridian Health in Neptune, N.J., where his purview extends across the entire Meridian system to include three hospitals, nursing homes, home care and partner companies. "Some of my students are Meridian employees and it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to connect faces with names. It definitely enriches my relationships with the staff," he added.

Ridge has served as principle investigator on several health system research studies and has published articles in the areas of systems analysis, patient safety, outcomes and community nursing center evaluations. He also serves on the editorial advisory board for Men in Nursing journal, and champions the efforts to increase the participation of men in the profession.

In 2006, Ridge was recipient of the Governor’s Nursing Merit Award for his contribution to the nursing profession and the state’s healthcare system. He has also been honored by the Institute of Nursing Foundation of the New Jersey State Nurses Association during their 2007 Divas and Dons Gala.

Ridge and his wife, Marla, live in Tinton Falls, N.J., and have been married for 34 years. Their daughter Corrina and son Richard are both master's-prepared teachers. The Ridges have three grandsons.


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