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The NJCCN team continues to work to advocate on behalf of nurses in NJ and disseminate information to our valued constituents. | | |
NJCCN Newsletter
2025 Fall Wrap-up
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DOE Rule limits Access to Federal Loans for Advanced Nursing Degrees
The Department of Education excluded advanced nursing degrees in the "professional" category which would limit the federal borrowing and have other potential impacts. The National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, which represents NJ/NJCCN and 44 other state workforce subscribers, along with 56 other national nursing organizations advocated for this to change. Click HERE to read the letter.
Limiting access to federal loan amounts for advanced nursing education is the antithesis of forward thinking amid an already strained access to care landscape. We need to focus on ways to strengthen and build workforce capacity & equity and access to healthcare while ensuring nursing students are making informed decisions with their student loan borrowing and repayment. This federal rulemaking can be found here and will soon be open for public comment.
Press Release
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Retention Success:
NJCCN Nurse Residency Collaborative Maintains 89% One-Year Retention Rate.
The New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCC) continues excellence in supporting early-career nurses through its Acute Care Nurse Residency Program Collaborative. Recent evaluation findings from cohorts that began in 2022 and 2023 show a remarkable 89% one-year retention rate.
Many participating hospitals benefit from partial funding through a GAINS Grant, made possible by the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
Explore the full evaluation in the Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing.
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Nurse State Policy Advocacy Day: Celebrating Rutgers Democracy Week
In partnership with Rutgers Democracy Lab, NJCCN hosted Nurse Sate Policy (SPA) Day on Oct. 10, 2025 to engage Rutgers nursing students in political advocacy and state-level testimony at the NJ state in Trenton.
This event included a panel discussion of nurse leaders and a tour of the statehouse. Nurse S.P.A. Day was recorded as an episode of the New Jersey Nursing Insights Podcast. You can listen HERE on all streaming channels or watch the 2-part episode on NJCCN's YouTube channel.
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Acute Care Nurse Residency Program Collaborative Meeting
In partnership with Vizient, Inc., NJCCN hosted it annual Clinical Coordinator workshop, bringing together the nurse residency program coordinators and chief nursing officers or other nursing leaders from the collaborative for shared learning, reflection, and planning. This annual gathering plays a vital role in strengthening the statewide acute care nurse residency program, ensuring that new nurses receive the support and structured transition into practice experience they need.
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Tri Council Meeting
The Tri Council convened this month to advance nursing education across the state of New Jersey.
This collaborative meeting brought together leaders from nursing programs statewide to address pressing challenges and identify actionable solutions.
Thank you to the Tri Council for your continued dedication to building a stronger nursing workforce and expanding educational opportunities for future nurses.
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New Jersey Nursing Data & Analysis Report - COMING SOON!
The 2026 edition of the New Jersey Nursing Data & Analysis Report will provide insights on New Jersey's nursing workforce supply and demand data across settings. The report will include:
- Educational Capacity Data 2023-2024
- Workforce Supply Data 2024-2025
- Workforce Demand 2024
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Spotlight on NJCCN Nurse Residency Collaborative at the Morristown Research Conference.
Dr. Daria Waszak shared key findings from the evaluation of NJCCN’s Nurse Residency Collaborative. The presentation highlighted the program’s impact and outcomes, drawing attention from nurse leaders and researchers across the region.
The event also featured an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Angela Starkweather, Dean of Rutgers School of Nursing, whose research presentation reminded us why we’re proud to be part of the nursing profession.
A wide range of innovative projects were showcased by nurses from Atlantic Health and other institutions.
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HCANJ Annual Convention
NJCCN Executive Director, Dr. Daria Waszak presented at the 77th Annual Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ) Convention in Atlantic City —participating in both the DON Roundtable on workforce issues and a panel discussion. Attendees offered valuable insights and strong engagement throughout.
A clear message emerged: New Jersey’s older-adult care workforce needs stability.
| | | | New Jersey Nursing Insights Podcast | |
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Nursing Insights is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming sites.
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Listen Now!
Ep. 30| From Outpost Nursing to Global Patient Safety with Dr. Deeba Siddiqui
Dr. Siddiqui shares how her experiences shaped a career focused on safety, public health, and leadership.
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Long-Term Care/Assisted Living Nurse Residency Program
NJCCN recently received a no-cost, one-year grant extension for our Long-Term Care Nurse Residency Program to provide it to new graduate RNs and LPNs and eight additional eight facilities. As part of this extension, we are launching the Alternate Care Environments (ACE) Immersion for Rutgers junior and senior nursing students. Our goal is to spark early interest in LTC, AL, home health and other out-of-hospital settings among undergraduate students and strengthen the pipeline into long-term care and community-based settings.
For more information? Contact Dr. Daria Waszak at dlw210@sn.rutgers.edu or
973-353-3832.
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New Jersey Acute Care Nurse Residency Collaborative
The acute care collaborative aims to increase the use of standardized, high-quality nurse residency programs across the state through the implementation of the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program.
There are now 22 hospitals (14 in the GAINS Grant) participating in the Nurse Residency Collaborative. The turnover rate for our NJ Collaborative is 10-11% (Waszak, Cadmus, Roberts, 2025). This demonstrates a return on investment (ROI) for organizations.
NJCCN applied for a 7th cycle with the Growing Apprenticeships in Non-traditional Sectors (GAINS) grant with the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
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School Nurse Residency Program
In June 2025, 20 "emergency"-certified school nurses were enrolled in Rutgers School Nurse Certificate program and NJCCN Residency program partially funded through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and coordinated by faculty member, Dr. Cathy Grano.
There is a 13% deficit of certified school nurses in the state, so this program will help mitigate this gap. The first cohort is progressing well with no attrition so far.
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Advanced Practice Nurses.
In January 2025, an APN transition into practice program was established with 3 New Jersey healthcare organizations, AtlantiCare, Virtua Medical Group, and Holy Name Medical Center.
NJCCN serves as the facilitator for this program with Vizient and ThriveAP to ensure a smooth transition into practice with more than 14 different advanced practice specialties. So far, more than 40 APNs have been enrolled with little attrition and very positive feedback from APNs.
| | | New Jersey Acute Care Nurse Residency Collaborative Members |
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NJCCN Career Spotlight:
Advancing Your Nursing Education
| | Stay informed about the latest nursing legislative developments! | |
establishes the National Nursing Workforce Center Act to support the workforce centers in their work to stabilize, support, analyze, develop, and invest in growing the nursing workforce.
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Nursing Workforce
establish certain requirements and initiatives related to nurses; appropriate funds.
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transfers oversight to certified nurse aides (CNAs) from DOH to the Board of Nursing
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Senate Bill S4267
appropriates $10 million to the Department of Treasury for nurse preceptor tax credits
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Senate Bill S4268
establishes Nursing School Expansion Grant Program; appropriates $25 million.
| | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | | renames, extends eligibility, and makes various other changes to Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program; appropriates $10 million. | | |
Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act
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requires Division of Consumer Affairs to hire staff to alleviate professional license application backlog; appropriates $10,000,000 in fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028.
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prohibits the use of the “Nurse” title by an unlicensed person.
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New Jersey NOBC State Report
Biannual Report
2025
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New Jersey NOBC Database Registrations:
447 Total Board Service
170 Nurses Interested in Serving on an
Additional Board
358 Nurses Want to Serve
268 Counting Board Service
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NOBC Database Registrations:
29,594 Individuals Registered
4,455 Nurses Interested in Serving on an
Additional Board
16,174 Nurses Want to Serve
11,537 Counting Boards
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Waszak, D., de Cordova, P., & Polakowski, J. (2025, In Press). Part-time new graduate nurses in acute care: Evaluation of nurse residency outcomes, Nurse Leader, 102547
Fleming, K., Weaver, S. H., Hopkins, M., Townes, J., Guinta, L., Chervoni-Knapp, T., &
Conner, C. (2025). Get Inspired about legislation: Take action, make your voice heard. American Nurse Journal, 20(6), 24-28.
Mastro, K., Weaver, S. H., Kowalski, M. O., Mapp, M., Vitale, T. R., Caruso, J. T., Giordano, N (2025). Nurses Perception of the Health of the Work Environment: A Statewide Study. Journal of Nursing Administration, 55(5), 281-292.
Waszak, D., Cadmus, E., & Roberts, M. (2025, Aug). Evaluation of a Statewide Registered Nurse Residency Collaborative: An Apprenticeship Model in Acute Care, The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 56(8), 337-343
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Explore Our Latest Nursing Infographics!
Stay informed with NJCCN's newest data-driven resources available now on our website.
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CADMUS Leadership Model
The CADMUS Leadership Model of Advocacy was published in the September issue of NJ Nurse. This model was developed by Dr. Waszak and Dr. Weaver based on Dr. Edna Cadmus’ leadership traits in policy advocacy.
Read More
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NURSING WELL-BEING & RESILIENCE
Your Well-Being Matters!
Take some time to explore the various resources in our Wellness Hub
| | | Resources and Tips to Achieve Better Health | | Sign Up & Share Your Stories | | |
Sign Up for NJCCN Text Alerts
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Share Your Career Story for Our Next Social Media Spotlight
| | Stay informed about the latest nursing legislative developments, new episodes of the Nursing Insights Podcast, and updates that impact the nursing workforce in New Jersey. | | |
We’d love to feature your journey and how you’ve advanced in your nursing career on our NJCCN social media. Click below to share your story and inspire others!
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