New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing

04/16/2026

One minute. One breath at a time.
You’ve got this 💙

04/15/2026

Excellent gathering today with the Tri-Council, a group of nurse educator leaders from across the state which formed out of the NJAC.

Updates were provided on nursing policy and regulation, and a special guest speaker , Kenneth Jones, led us through discussion about AI in nursing education.
https://njccn.org/tri-council/

04/15/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲!

Transplant nurses care for patients receiving or donating organs and make a lasting impact on their lives.

In celebration of this important specialty, we highlight Samantha Tunney, a Transplant Unit Clinical Director.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠?

"I worked as a nursing assistant as an undergraduate and was frequently placed on the transplant unit. This was my first exposure to transplant nursing, and it had a lasting impact on me. Once I graduated, I realized how much I enjoyed the patient population and the supportive unit culture, which led me to apply for a full time RN position."

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠?

"I often say that there are two uplifting units in a hospital: Labor and Delivery, where you help to bring new life into the world, and Kidney Transplant, where patients are given a second chance at life. Being part of that journey is inspiring and continues to motivate me every day in my career."

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠?

"It’s hard to choose just one memory, but one of my favorite parts of my job is rounding on patients and hearing their stories- especially their excitement about no longer needing dialysis three times a week and getting their time back to spend with family, friends, and doing what they love."

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲?

"While this field is very rewarding, it’s also challenging and complex. You truly become a jack of all trades. Be prepared to constantly learn while also extensively educating your patients. Kidney transplant isn’t a quick surgical experience, but an ongoing journey with ups and downs, and you play a key role in supporting patients every step of the way."

04/14/2026

This month is about finding small ways to give back to yourself, too 💙

04/12/2026

A reminder for today:
The work you do matters more than you know.

04/09/2026

April Is Stress Awareness Month. This month, we’re Acknowledging YOUR Hardwork — and sharing simple ways to recharge along the way.

04/07/2026

Please share this new resource about Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) - they are essential workers keeping our healthcare system beating.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide essential, hands-on care every day, yet many face low wages, inadequate benefits, and limited opportunities for advancement. The New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing and the Essential Jobs Essential Care NJ Coalition partnered to conduct New Jersey’s first statewide CNA survey to better understand this workforce and advocate for change.

📌 Read the findings: https://njhcqi.info/cnasurveyresource
🔗To learn more or join EJEC NJ, visit: www.EssentialJobsNJ.org

04/07/2026

Celebrating Occupational Health Nurses Week 2026! ❤️

Happy ! This week recognizes the incredible contributions of all OHNs in supporting health & safety in the workplace.

🔦This is a spotlight on nurse practitioner, Dr. Elizabeth Van Dyk. 🩺

"I am honored to serve the past 4 years with the Occupational Medicine Service professionals at Atlantic Health. I draw inspiration from the those that I serve within the system. A unique aspect of my role is that I am scheduled to work at any one of the five hospitals within the system. This provides a very unique perspective of the culture of each individual hospital site. I provide vital services and care for the amazing and dedicated medical professionals and staff that bring healthcare to New Jersey.

Unfortunately, workplace hazards and accidents happen, and my role as the Occupational Health nurse practitioner brings quality emergency care to each person, validates their experience and assists employees towards full recovery and return to work. Another aspect of my role is to look for patterns of injury and work with colleagues to develop prevention strategies and education.

Occupational medicine serves as the hub of care for employee health delivering preventive services and education, emergency care, infectious disease management, well-employee physicals, and case management. I truly love being a part of my Atlantic Health colleague’s professional story while showing genuine care and compassion to those who care for others."

04/06/2026

News from the NJ Board of Nursing Related to New APN Legislation:

https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur

On March 30, 2026, Governor Sherrill signed a new law which allows independent practice for certain experienced advanced practice nurses (APNs) (the “March 30 APN Law”), which goes into effect on April 2, 2026.

Executive Order (Sherrill) 13, dated February 13, 2026, through DCA Administrative Order and Notice of Rule Waiver No. 2026-01, had extended the authorization for APNs to prescribe or order medications or devices without a joint protocol with a collaborating physician until April 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Under the March 30 APN Law, APNs who meet the requirements for independent practice do not need to enter into a joint protocol for prescriptive authority upon the expiration of that waiver on April 2, 2026.

Among other things, the March 30 APN Law allows APNs authorized to practice advanced practice nursing within a population focus of family or individual across the lifespan, adult gerontology, pediatrics, women’s health, or behavioral health to order and prescribe medications and devices without a joint protocol with a collaborating physician, provided:

⏲️ - The APN has 5,000 hours (approximately three full time years) of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in a role with the applicable population;

🩺 - The APN is providing primary or behavioral health care;

🚫 - The APN is not providing services in the areas of general obstetrics or elective aesthetic or cosmetic services; and

If the APN is providing behavioral health care services, the APN takes appropriate action to facilitate the timely referral, transfer, or admission to a higher level of care in the event the APN determines, based upon a documented clinical assessment, that the patient requires such care.

An APN practicing independently is held to the same standard of care as other independent health care practitioners. Among other requirements, the March 30 APN Law sets forth requirements for malpractice insurance and pharmacology education in order to independently practice.

💊 The pharmacology requirements include 14 continuing education hours in pharmacology related to controlled substances (including pharmacologic therapy and addiction prevention and management), in addition to any other existing pharmacology education requirements for advanced practice nursing and 10 pharmacology continuing education hours each biennial period.

The Board of Nursing will issue rules to effectuate the March 30 APN Law.

This notice is meant to provide general informational guidance. If you have specific questions, please email the board at NursingUpdates@dca.njoag.gov. While the Board will work to respond as quickly as possible to inquiries concerning the law, please allow at least 3 business days for a response.

New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs

04/04/2026

Factory work used to be Americans’ most reliable ticket to the middle class. Office jobs offered another dependable route. But as automation, globalized manufacturing, and now artificial intelligence threaten or narrow some of these paths, healthcare jobs have become the surest bet. At a time of uncertainty in the labor market, nursing offers not only stability but, for some, a pathway to real prosperity.

The median annual wage for registered nurses in the U.S. is $93,600, compared with $49,500 for all occupations, according to the Labor Department. For nurse practitioners and others with advanced degrees, it is $132,050.

Healthcare has generated some of the most consistent job growth of any U.S. profession since the early 1980s, thanks to soaring healthcare spending and the aging population. The sector was the largest source of job creation in the U.S. last year, as many other industries cooled or contracted. That trend continued in January, though employment in the sector dropped in February, partly because of nursing strikes in New York City and elsewhere.

The profession’s future, though, looks bright. The Labor Department projects that employment of advanced-degree nurses will increase by 35% from 2024 to 2034, eclipsing the expected 3% growth across all occupations. Registered-nurse employment is projected to rise 5% over that period.

Read more: 🔗 https://on.wsj.com/3O3AYSz

04/04/2026

Congratulations to Christian Health who had a LPN complete our 12-month Long Term Care Nurse Residency program partially sponsored by the New Jersey Department Of Labor Workforce Development

The program faculty, Linda Hassler, DNP, is pictured here awarding the participant, her preceptor, and nurse leaders including Anne Cyrel Alonzo MSN, RN, QCP.

This is a testament to all of their dedication to patient care. 👏👏👏

04/01/2026

Entering cherry blossom season in Newark 🌸