Our thanks to Sheila Caldwell, BSN, RN, CSN, FNASN for her thorough analysis of this amazing accomplishment by NJSSNA to increase the pool of registered nurses and the potential impact of the New Jersey First Act.

"Proposed Amendments at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B, State Board of Examiners and Certification" 

Please see the summary below:

 "The Department of Education (Department) proposes to amend N.J.A.C. 6A:9B, State Board of Examiners and Certification, to expand the type of professional nurse licenses that candidates must hold to be eligible for the school nurse or school nurse/non-instructional endorsements and the substitute school nurse/non-instructional credential. Specifically, the Department proposes to amend N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-7.5, 14.3, and 14.4 to add a valid multistate registered professional nurse license issued by the licensing board of a state that is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) as an option for the required professional license.

The proposed amendments are the result of a petition for rulemaking submitted by Rosemary Catton, R.N., Executive Director of the New Jersey State School Nurses Association. The petitioner requested amendments at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-7.5 and 14.3 to allow holders of a multistate registered professional nurse license issued by a state board of nursing that participates in the NLC to qualify for a substitute school nurse/non-instructional credential or an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement. The petitioner indicated that the NLC allows nurses with a license in one state to practice in other participating states without needing a separate license in each state. New Jersey joined the NLC on November 15, 2021" Bravo NJSSNA! 

The New Jersey First Act , N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70), requires employees of all public employers (for example, state, county, and municipal governments), public agencies, authorities, boards, bodies, commissions, public institutions of higher education, certain quasi-public entities, and all school boards to reside in the State of New Jersey unless otherwise exempted under the law. A prospective employee has one year to establish New Jersey residence. Hopefully legal provisions will be made to accommodate traveling nurses.

For more information and public commentary on the proposed amendment change, please click on the attachment or the statute to view the New Jersey First Act.