Bill > S1949

This bill establishes several initiatives and requirements related to nurses in New Jersey, including the creation of a transition-to-practice program for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered professional nurses (RNs) that facilities can apply to receive financial, material, and technical support for from the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN). The NJCCN will set the requirements for these 12-month, full-time programs, which must include preceptor or mentor support and data collection on participant retention. The bill also modifies the composition of the NJCCN's governing board to include more diverse nursing representation, such as school nurses and public health nurses, and expands the reporting requirements for the NJCCN to include data on participation in the transition-to-practice program and funds spent on support. Additionally, the bill establishes the New Jersey Nursing Emotional Well-Being Institute (NJ-NEW) within the NJCCN to promote nurses' mental health through services like Virtual Schwartz Rounds and a statewide well-being hub, and mandates that the New Jersey Board of Nursing and the Department of Health collect comprehensive survey data from licensed nurses, nursing schools, and certified nurse aide programs to inform policy and improve the nursing workforce. Finally, the bill appropriates funds to the NJCCN for the transition-to-practice program and to the NJ-NEW for its operations, and dedicates a portion of nurse licensing fees to fund the NJCCN, with a minimum annual allocation of $515,000.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S1949