This bill establishes a program through the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN) aimed at providing financial, material, and technical support to healthcare facilities for implementing transition-to-practice programs for licensed practical nurses and registered professional nurses. The NJCCN will set specific requirements for these programs, including a 12-month timeline, full-time participation, mentorship support, and data collection on program completion and employment retention. Facilities that wish to participate must apply, with priority given to veterans memorial homes, long-term care facilities, and home care providers. The New Jersey Board of Nursing will allocate funding to the NJCCN, capped at $2 million annually, to support these initiatives.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to enhance the governance of the NJCCN by updating its board composition to include representatives from school nursing and public health nursing. It mandates biannual reporting on program participation and outcomes, and introduces the New Jersey Nursing Emotional Well-Being Institute (NJ-NEW) to promote mental health resources for nurses and their families. The bill also requires new surveys for nurses and nursing training programs to collect demographic and employment data, which will be analyzed and reported by the NJCCN and the Department of Health. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen support for the nursing workforce in New Jersey through targeted programs and funding mechanisms.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:65-91, 18A:65-92, 18A:65-92.1, 45:11-27.1