New Jersey Nurse - June 2022

Advocating--Positioning--and Educating New Jersey RNs

Brought to you by NJSNA’s Dues-Paying Members. JOIN US TODAY!

The Official Publication of the New Jersey State Nurses Association/Institute for Nursing

Volume 52 • Number 3 Quarterly publication direct mailed to approximately 141,000 RNs and LPNs in New Jersey June 2022

Inside...

President’s Report

IFN Report

Page 7

Institute for Nursing 2022 Scholarship Awardees

Page 17

Index

New Jersey Begins Legal Cannabis Sales for Adults. ..2

CEO Report. .................................3

Region News ................................4

In Memoriam - Shirley Smoyak. ..................8

FNAP ......................................9

The New Jersey State Nurses Association

Diva and Don Gala. ........................10

NJCCN....................................12

The New Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner

Education: A Message for Prospective NP Students.. 13

Two New Jersey School Nurses Receive National

Recognition. .............................14

Nursing Coalition Taking Shape to Address Issues in

Nursing.................................... 15

LPN Forum.................................... 18

NJSNA Election Policy........................... 22

“The public health nurses

of the 1920s and 1930s

were perhaps not as facile at

understanding this reality or

not as skilled at thriving within

an environment when the

political alliances were flexible

and shifting, but they did

adjust.” (Mason, et al., Pg. 21)

“Advocacy is a dish best

served coordinated.”

Suzanne Miyamoto, Nurses Mary Ellen Levine

in Washington Internship

Speech 2014 (From in Mason, et al., 2021, p. 25)

In a climate that is as changeable as during a

pandemic, healthcare and nursing has certainly had to

adjust. In the light of the needs of our communities

and patients, advocacy for nursing has certainly not

taken a back seat! During the past few months, we

have experienced the accusation and now conviction

of a nurse of criminally negligent homicide resulting

in a patient fatality. Criminality of a medical error

will no doubt impact the ‘Just Culture’ and ‘To Err is

Human’ environment so necessary in healthcare. It

is in our humanness which we, along with healthcare

systems, employers, and healthcare colleagues strive

to maintain the trust of the public in an environment

fraught with increasing responsibility, skill, and

educational preparation rigors. It is under the duress

of individual morbidity of increasing numbers of

Americans, lack of public health funding, and the

lack of understanding of what it means and what

it costs for ‘sick care’ as opposed to ‘well care.’ As

Membership

healthcare strives to provide effective and safe care,

the precedent of blame on the individual caregiver,

the healthcare provider, for a mistake is indeed

distressing.

In New Jersey, under the watchful eye of the New

Jersey State Nurses Association, the Division of

Consumer Affairs had proposed to include accusations

of discrimination to be a reportable licensure offense.

Unbeknown to many nurses, nursing organizations,

and healthcare employers, this rule was published on

the New Jersey Register back on March 7th, 2022.

While our communities struggle with the numerous

events affecting our state and our nation, nurses

and healthcare has made strides to understand and

address the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Not intended to undermine the efforts of the Division,

a statement was crafted by the Nursing Coalition,

including representation from the New Jersey State

Nurses Association, in opposition to accusations of

discrimination a reportable offense. We agreed the

intent of the rule was in fact being addressed, in ways

too new and untested, which are intended to address

discrimination, including some established by law.

At this time, the result of our efforts had not been

determined.

As your NJSNA President, it is truly an honor and

a privilege to serve you, the nurses of New Jersey. I

invite you to join, become more involved, and more

educated in the civics of our state under which your

license is legislated and regulated.

References

Mason, D., Dickson, E., Perez, G. A., McLemore, M.

(2021). Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care

(8th Edition). Elsevier Health Sciences: Missouri.

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Page 2 New Jersey Nurse & Institute for Nursing Newsletter June 2022

New Jersey Begins Legal Cannabis Sales

for Adults

By Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Coalition for Medical

Marijuana New Jersey, Executive Director

On April 21, 2022, New Jersey began the legal

sale of cannabis to adults at twelve of the existing

medical marijuana dispensaries, or Alternative

Treatment Centers (ATCs), in the state. The ATCs

served over 12,000 customers that day, who were

eager to purchase cannabis without fear of arrest, or

without having to divulge a medical condition which

qualified them to use it.

New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission

(CRC), 1 which recently completed its first year of

operation, is developing the regulations for this new

industry, along with managing the state’s Medicinal

Cannabis Program (MCP). The CRC’s mission is to

create the cannabis industry with social justice at

its core. 2 Minorities, women, and disabled veterans

will get 30% of the new licenses. Many small

organizations have already been granted conditional

license approvals by the CRC, and they hope to start

opening within the year.

New Jersey’s MCP has been operational since

2012 and currently serves about 130,000 patients.

Officials estimate there are an additional 800,000

recreational, or adult use, cannabis consumers in

the state. The CRC was concerned that adult-use

sales would negatively impact medical access, but it

took measures to ensure that this would not happen,

including separate lines at the ATCs, home delivery,

and online ordering and curbside pickup for patients.

In 2014, the Coalition for Medical Marijuana–

New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ), endorsed legalization

of cannabis as the best way to get this “essential

medicine.” 3 to the most people. 4 CMMNJ said

legalization will allow hundreds of thousands of state

residents to experience the many medical benefits of

cannabis. New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved

Ballot Question #1, to legalize, tax, and regulate

cannabis, in the November 2020 election. 5

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana (CMMNJ) has

identified several post-legalization goals:

• A home cultivation program for patients. 6 This

will reduce costs and guarantee the availability

of specific strains of cannabis that are most

effective for individual treatment.

• Insurance coverage for medical cannabis,

including Senate Bill 313, 7 which passed

unanimously out of the Senate Health

Committee in March 2022.

• Access to medical cannabis for qualified

patients in all health care facilities and state

institutions. 8 This will improve patient care and

reduce the associated costs, as cannabis treats

and stabilizes multiple conditions.

• Dosing and Administration guidelines and

educational programs on the Endocannabinoid

System (ECS). These should be adopted and

promulgated by the state, as medical cannabis

becomes part of the treatment regimen for at

least 10% of adults in New Jersey.

Nurses are encouraged to join the American

Cannabis Nurses Association 9 to learn more about

the ECS, an emerging field of bioscience, which some

researchers believe may play a role in all disease

processes.

Other resources for nurses include the annual

conferences by Patients Out of Time, 10 the website of

Americans for Safe Access, 11 and The Answer Page, 12

for Continuing Education Contact Hours.

References:

1. Cannabis Regulatory Commission: https://www.

nj.gov/cannabis/

2. https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/businesses/priorityapplications/index.shtml

3. Governor Murphy’s Executive Order #107 allowed

the ATCs to stay open during COVID restrictions,

declaring them “essential services.” https://nj.gov/

infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-107.pdf

4. Opinion: N.J. should legalize, tax and regulate

marijuana,

https://www.nj.com/timesopinion/2014/01/opinion_nj_should_legalize_tax.

html

5. NJ Election Results: Question 1- Legalize

Marijuana- Ballot Issue: https://elections.

ap.org/nj/results/2020-11-03/state/

NJ/race/I/raceid/31679?fbclid=IwAR

0uduIKZTLk 7WUuBMDo kPmh4Lw9Fwh

u6ncNEbgHAZdhk3VsFtwqEUyNwFU

6. Proposed Medical Cannabis Home Cultivation

Program: http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2021/01/isexample-of-sample-legislation.html

7. Bill S313: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/billsearch/2022/S313

8. It's time for N.J. to fully embrace medical marijuana

| Opinion: https://www.nj.com/opinion/2016/01/nj_

needs_to_embrace_medical_marijuana_opinion.html

9. American Cannabis Nurses Association: https://www.

cannabisnurses.org/

10. Patients Out of Time: https://patientsoutoftime.com/

11. Americans for Safe Access: https://www.

safeaccessnow.org/

12. The Answer Page: https://www.theanswerpage.com/

New Jersey Nurse

Official Publication of the

New Jersey State Nurses Association and Institute for Nursing

1479 Pennington Road

Trenton, New Jersey 08618

Phone: 609-883-5335 ext 111

Fax: 609-883-5343

Email: jennifer@njsna.org

Webpage: www.njsna.org

NJSNA Mission Statement

Advance the practice of professional nursing by fostering quality

outcomes in education, practice and research

Institute for Nursing (IFN) Board of Trustees

Dr. Sandra Foley, Chair, sandra@njsna.org

Dr. Judy Schmidt, CEO, judy@njsna.org

Dr. Dely Go, Vice Chair

Dan Misa, Treasurer

Wayne Hall, Public Trustee

Kristen Buckley, Public Trustee

Jennifer Smith, Public Trustee

Edward Allison, Public Trustee

Teri Wurmser, Trustee NJSNA

Kate Gillespie, Trustee NJSNA

Mary Anne Mara, Trustee NJSNA

Executive Committee

Dr Mary Ellen Levine, President, maryellen@njsna.org

Dr. Sandra Foley, President-Elect, sandra@njsna.org

Dr. Amita Avadhani, Vice President, amita@njsna.org

Daniel Misa, Treasurer, danmisa1@gmail.com

Linda Gural, Secretary, lmgural@aol.com

Board of Directors

JoAnne Penn, Director, joannepenn@aol.com

Dr. Margaret Daingerfield, Director, madaingerfield@aol.com

Dr. Ann Tritak-Elmiger, Director, atelmiger@gmail.com

Dr. Tara Heagele, Director, taraheagele@hotmail.com

Dr. Stephanie Herr, Chair COPP, stephanie.herredrn@gmail.com

Region Presidents

Tara Lynne Parker, Region 1, taralynneparker71@gmail.com

Dr. Mary Genuino, Region 2, mgenuino1@gmail.com

Dr. Lois V. Greene, Region 3, loisvgreene@gmail.com

Maureen Clark-Gallagher, Region 4, mcgallagher1@comcast.net

Dr. Barbara McCormick, Region 5, barbmcrn@comcast.net

Renee T. White, Region 6, reneewaskovich@gmail.com

NJSNA/IFN Staff

Dr. Judy Schmidt, CEO, judy@njsna.org

Debra Harwell, Deputy Director, deb@njsna.org

Terri Ivory, Director of RAMP, terri@njsna.org

Dr. Lisa Golini, Director of Clinical Operations, lisa@njsna.org

Jennifer Chanti, Exec. Asst./Membership Administrator, jennifer@njsna.org

Tyea Santiago, Education Coordinator, education@njsna.org

Kortnei Jackson, Ed. Adm. Asst., kjackson@njsna.org

Annemarie Edinger, RAMP Comm. Coord., annemarie@njsna.org

Emily Gannon, RAMP Intake Spec., emily@njsna.org

Benita James, RAMP Case Manager, benita@njsna.org

Joan Peditto, RAMP Case Manager, joan@njsna.org

Andrew Haviland, RAMP Case Manager, andrew@njsna.org

New Jersey Nurse Staff

Dr. Judy Schmidt, Editor

Jennifer Chanti, Managing Editor

Dr. Barbara Wright, Executive Editor

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New Jersey Nurse Copy Submission Guidelines:

All NJSNA members are encouraged to submit material for

publication that is of interest to nurses. The New Jersey Nurse also

welcomes unsolicited manuscripts. Article submission is preferred

in MS Word format, Times New Roman font and can be up to 500

words. When sending pictures, please remember to label pictures

clearly since the editors have no way of knowing who persons in the

photos might be.

Copy Submissions: Preferred submission is by email to the

Managing Editor. Only use MS Word for test submission. Please do

not embed photos in Word files, send photos as jpg files.

Submit Materials to: New Jersey Nurse, Attention to Jennifer

Chanti, Managing Editor at jennifer@njsna.org

Advertising: for advertising rates and information please contact

Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 216, Cedar Falls,

Iowa 50613 (800-626-4081), sales@aldpub.com. NJSNA and the

Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. reserve the right to reject

any advertisement. Responsibility for errors in advertising is limited to

corrections in the next issue or refund of price of advertisement.

Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement or approval by

the New Jersey State Nurses Association of products advertised, the

advertisers, or the claims made. Rejection of an advertisement does

not imply a product offered for advertising is without merit, or that the

manufacturer lacks integrity, or that this association disapproves of the

product or its use. NJSNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency,

Inc. shall not be held liable for any consequences resulting from

purchase or use of an advertiser’s product. Articles appearing in this

publication express the opinions of the authors; they do not necessarily

reflect views of the staff, board, or membership of NJSNA or those of

the national or local associations.

June 2022 New Jersey Nurse & Institute for Nursing Newsletter Page 3

CEO Report

Political Updates:

We are now going into

the second quarter of the

Legislative Session 2022-

2023. The focus of the

legislature has been on Covid

and the Budget during the

first quarter. In May, the

legislature started working on

advancing other bills. The

last half of 2022 will be a

busy time for NJSNA and our

lobbyist in advocating for the

Judith Schmidt

advancement of the following bills:

Legislation Watch:

• Removal of APN/Physician Collaborating

Agreement (A2886/S1522)

o Assembly bill and Senate bill reintroduced

o Bills have been sent to the Health

Committees

o NJSNA Board recommends support

• Nurse Staffing Committees (A224)

o Assembly bill in Health Committees

o No Senate version


• Surgical Smoke (A256/S732)


o Bills have been sent to the Health

Committees


• Nurse Title Protection (A3829)

o Reintroduced in the Assembly

o Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions

o Actively looking for sponsor in the Senate


• BSN in 10 (A2194/ S1050)


o Referred to Senate Health

o Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions


Collaboration with the New Jersey Board of

Nursing:

• All NJ Board of Nursing positions have been

filled except two public members.

• Continuing to facilitate resolution to problems

that NJSNA members and non-members are

experiencing. NJSNA Executive Board met with

leadership in the Division of Consumer Affairs

last year to discuss issues that our members

were having when contacting the board of

nursing. This dialogue will remain open until

resolutions are obtained.

• NJSNA still assists its members with any issues

regarding licensure.

• Executive Director/Secretary to the Board

of Nursing Position posted in October. The

position has been filled and we are awaiting

an official announcement from the Division

of Consumer Affairs. Donette Walker is the

Interim Executive Director.

• The Attorney General proposed a Rule

on Discrimination and Harassment for all

licensee under the Division of Consumer

Affairs. This rule does affect nursing and may

have unintended consequences. NJSNA in

collaboration with the Nursing Coalition Group

submitted comments to the DCA. Here is the

proposed rule: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.

gov/Proposals/Pages/dca03072022-proposal.

aspx

Collaboration with the American Nurses

Association (ANA):

• Assisting the Healthy Nurse Health NJ group in

the “RNConnect” Project through ANA to help

nurses experiencing stress in the workplace.

• Collaborating with the ANA and NJ

Department of Health “CDC’s Project Firstline”

regarding infection prevention.

• Appointed to the National Nurse Staffing Task

Collaboration with other organizations:

NJSNA continues to network with and provide

valuable input into the following:

• NJ Business and Industry Health Care Policy

Committee

• Clinicians for Climate Health.

• Consortium of New Jersey Nurse Educators

• ONL NJ Legislation and Advocacy Committee

• Rutgers University School of Nursing Advisory

Committee

• Kean University School of Nursing Advisory

Committee

• Felician University School of Nursing Advisory

Committee

• NJ Department of Health Professional Advisory

Committee

o Allocation of Scarce Resources (Staff, PPE,

and Ventilators)

o Covid Testing

o Vaccine Hesitancy

o Vaccine Distribution plans for children and

young adults

o Vaccinator Recruitment

• Nuture New Jersey- looking at Maternal-child

mortality and morbidity.

• New Jersey Collaborating Center


R egion News

Region 1

Morris, Passaic,

Sussex, Warren

Meghan Keaveney, BSN, RN, VP of

Communication

Region 1 hope that this summer offers warmth

and well-deserved breaks. Our members are very

busy and involved within our community. Please

consider purchasing Nightingale lamp notecards

which assists our region in our philanthropic

endeavors. Please contact President Parker

(taralynneparker71@gmail.com) if interested

in purchasing notecards. A pack of 10 cards is

available for purchase for $20.00.

We continue to seek other venues to host our

history, photos, and artifacts.

Region 1 has been continuously participating in

donating to various food pantries throughout the

region.

Business Meetings

We had an in person meeting in June at a

Sussex location on the campus of Newton Medical

Center.

Upcoming Meetings:

Region 1 is so excited to host our annual dinner

meeting on Wednesday September 21st at the

Rockaway River Country Club at 6pm. We seek

to celebrate the year of the Nurse Educator and

explore the continuim of nursing education from

baccalaureate to master’s and the educational

transition of a new graduate to from the lens of

experts in higher education and hospital educator

as well as a novice nurse.

NJSNA Election 2023

Nominations are open for 2023 and include

Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President for

Communication, Vice President for Education,

Warren County Coordinator, Passaic County

Coordinator and two positions open for

Nominations Committee.

Library Displays:

Active Region 1 Member and Historian Lauren

Krause continues to promote Region 1 at local

libraries; most recently in Wayne, NJ. (see photo)

Social Media Presence

Follow our social media pages for the most upto-date

for our events and news postings. Twitter

and Instagram handles are @NJSNARegion1.

Facebook link is as follows: https://www.facebook.

com/NJSNARegion1/

Region 2

Bergen, Hudson

Mary Jane Genuino, DNP RN-BC

As we usher in the warm months, it is also an

excellent time to remember the past two years and

what nursing as a profession has gone through. We

celebrate Nurses Week with the appreciation we

all need and rightly deserve. Gone are the days of

isolation and mask mandates but lest we forget, we

must keep in mind the challenges we have faced

and learn from the experience.

Region 2 celebrated Nurses week with a dinner/

educational program at Picco Tavern in Hackensack

and was well-attended by seasoned and new

members alike. The topic for the night was Rapid

Mood Screener and breaking the Myth on Bipolar

Disorder, sponsored by Abbvie Pharmaceuticals.

The members also collected medical supplies, nonperishable

foods, and sleeping bags to help with

the emergency assistance efforts for the citizens of

Ukraine.

With the new board members and committee

members installed, the region is also looking for

volunteers. We are looking for volunteers to run for

the following positions: president, vice-president,

and treasurer. Joining a professional organization

is the first step, but it is equally essential to be

active and involved. It is a way for us to give back

and learn valuable skills in the process. Anyone

interested can email Mary Jane Genuino, DNP

RN-BC, Mgenuino1@gmail.com or Dr. Adepoju at

gadepoju2016@gmail.com.

Region 3

Essex, Union Counties

Elsie A. Rivera, DNP, APN. FNP-C

VP Communications

Region 3 continues to thank all members for

their continued support during the Spring events.

Nurses Night Out held at the Stage House Tavern

on April 13th was a huge success as we networked

with members, both new and old. Dr. Denise

Warren discussed the “Importance of Mentorship,

Scholarship, & Preceptorship” to attendees. CEs

were provided for the event. Congratulations to the

raffle winners!

The annual membership meeting was held

in person at Montclair State University and

via Zoom, where we discussed “Hot Topics in

Nursing,” including moral injury, the Tennessee

Verdict, staffing solutions, and legislative topics.

The evening started with a tour of the nursing

simulation stations. Thank you to MSU for hosting

the meeting.

Congratulations to Dr. Shanda Johnson and Dr.

Varsha Singh for receiving the Institute for Nursing

Divas Awards for their contributions to the nursing

profession. It was a night of nursing appreciation

and commemorating all the work IFN continues to

advocate for Nursing forward in New Jersey.

Grow Like a Pro presentation on March 22 by

Dr. Varsha Singh was well received. We learned

to grow plants and how to effectively recycle

waste to care for Mother Earth. She eloquently

drew parallels between growing plants and that of

personal and professional growth and caring for

ourselves as nurses. Additionally, the plant sale

fundraising was a great success, thanks to those

who help raise funds for Region 3, in order to fulfill

its goal.

Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Talmont for

her publication: Telehealth Readiness Assessment

of Perinatal Nurses (2022), Nursing for Women’s

Health, Volume 26, Issue 2, 86-94.

Region 3 General Meetings for 2022. Stay

connected to see where the next meeting will take

place.


R egion News

September 20 6:30 – 8p

December 6 6:30-8p

Find out what Region 3 is up to on NJSNA

Region 3 microsite, Facebook, Instagram and

LinkedIn.

Call for Nominations – 2022. Region 3

Nominations Committee has called for member

suggestions for the November 2022 elections.

President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, VP

Communications, Member-at-Large Essex and

Union Counties, and Nominating Committee.

Members would take office January 2023.

For additional questions or information please

email Shanda Johnson, Chair Nominations

Committee NJSNARegion03@gmail.com

Region 4

Bucks, Hunterdon,

Mercer, Middlesex,

Somerset Counties

Maureen Clark-Gallagher MS, RN

President

The Region 4 Board continues to work for you.

We thank you for all that you are doing for the

nursing profession and the communities that we

serve.

We continue to have monthly Board meetings. As

of March 10, with our program on Self Awareness,

Peer Support, and Moral Injury by Nurse2Nurse, we

began alternating Board meetings one month and

educational programs the next month. The link to

the Nurse2Nurse Presentation can be found on the

Region 4 microsite Continuing Education Section

https://njsna.org/regional-site/region-4. The May

program, by Megan Filorama, MSN, APN-C Nurse

Coach and Region 4 Member, was Reclaiming Your

Happiness Without Changing Your Job: 5 Steps for

Nurses. These programs have been well received by

Region 4 members, nursing students, and members

of other Regions.

The Region 4 Board meeting and educational

program meetings are held on the second Thursday

of every month at 7 pm. The meetings are held via

Zoom and we also have a good time. The more the

merrier! Please contact me at mgallagher@tesu.edu

and I will send you the meeting link and agenda.

In alignment with the information in the

previous paragraph, we have created an Education

Committee. If you are interested in joining this

committee or have ideas for education programs

that you would like us to present, please email VP

of Education Nowai Keleekai-Brapoh at nowai.

keleekai@gmail.com.

Region 4 believes that education scholarships

are important to the advancement of the

nursing profession. For a number of years,

Region 4 has offered the BARBARA WRIGHT

SCHOLARSHIP. To obtain a Region 4

Scholarship application, please click on the link

(scroll to the bottom of the page) https://njsna.

org/scholarship/ The deadline is September 1,

2022.

A scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will

be awarded to a registered nurse who is a NJSNA

Region 4 member (minimum of one year) and/

or a nursing student who lives in Region 4 and is

enrolled in a nursing education program at one

of the following levels and meets the criteria and

policy below.

To support this endeavor, Region 4’s Dr. Barbara

Wright Scholarship has a site associated with the

IFN for tax free donations. The link is https://njsna.

memberclicks.net/donation. Information about this

scholarship can be found on the NJSNA website at

https://njsna.org/scholarship/

Region 4’s microsite has been available for

several months and, according to the number

of hits, is a popular resource with members. We

are thrilled!! We strive to keep it up to date and

inclusive of pertinent information for you. Please

check us out at https://njsna.org/regional-site/

region-4/

We also strive to communicate with you through

the Region 4 newsletters. We hope you are enjoying

them. Region 4 members are automatically emailed

the newsletter. If you are not a member of Region

4 and would like to receive a copy, please email me

and I will gladly email it to you.

We welcome your contributions and/or ideas

on what you would like covered in the Newsletter

or on the microsite. Please send us your

accomplishments, photos, or anything else you

deem relevant to nursing. We also encourage you to

write an article for the Newsletter.

Region 4 members are encouraged to use the

new MemberClicks membership website. https://

njsna.memberclicks.net/

Region 4 consists of outstanding nurses who

make a difference in the nursing profession and

those we serve. Nursing’s commitment makes a

difference be it on the local level, state, national,

and/or international level. Region 4 had the

pleasure of recognizing nursing excellence at the

recent IFN Diva and Dons Gala. I have included

some photos that I hope you enjoy.

Please know that the Region 4 Board is here for

you. Feel free to reach out to me or any member of

the Region 4 Board.


R egion News

Region 5

Burlington, Camden,

Cumberland,

Gloucester, and Salem

Trish Egenton MSN, RN, CEN, CCRN, NE-BC

Communications Director

NJSNA Region 5 is pleased to welcome Marilyn

Mapp, DNP, RN, NEA-BC to our Board as the

Membership Director. Marilyn is a Burlington

County resident, and will also serve as the liaison

to Burlington County. Marilyn has an extensive

background in Women and Children’s Health,

having worked at The NY Presbyterian Hospital for

more than a decade. She is presently the Director

of Nursing over the Women and Children’s Services

for Jefferson, NJ. Dr. Mapp, recently completed

her DNP at The George Washington University.

Her dissertation topic was “Implicit Bias Training:

Improving Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Maternal

Care.” Welcome Dr. Mapp!

Dr. Barbara Chamberlain and Dr. Barbara

McCormick, along with other NJSNA members,

attended “Filipino Healthcare Leaders in America”

educational activity at Pines Manor in Edison N.J.,

on April 30th. Kudos to PNANJ for a great event and

offering 6 CEs!

Dr Kristin Sagedy (NJSNA President Elect)

presented her dissertation topic “Attitudes Toward

End-of-Life Care,” on May 17, 2022 at NJSNA

Region 5 spring meeting. We look forward to

feedback from the event to continue research on this

important topic. Thanks to Jefferson Health NJ, for

driving the educational event and Summit City Farms

Winery for a lovely location.

On March 18, 2022, Region 5 member Peggy

McMahon MN, RN, APN, NP-C, CEN, FAEN

presented “The Older Nurse in the ED: Maximizing

Contributions,” at the NJENA 43rd Emergency Care

Conference in Atlantic City. Peggy is a Vietnam

War Veteran, and she was the guest speaker for the

Washington Township, Gloucester County 2022

Memorial Day Ceremony, which was held on May 13,

2022. Many thanks to Peggy for all her contributions

to our nursing profession.

On April 27, 2022, Dr. Barbara Chamberlain,

who served as a USAF nurse, had the opportunity to

participate in an Honor Flight trip to the Memorials

in Washington, D.C. These Honor Flights honor our

nation’s veterans with an all-expense paid trip to D.C.

to remember friends and comrades who were lost, and

the opportunity to share their stories.

Region 5 had a great in person Spring Meeting on

May 17, 2022. The gathering took place at Summit

City Farms in Glassboro. Many thanks to Jefferson

Health, NJ, who sponsored the 1.5 contact hour.

Please continue to connect with us on social media

via Facebook and Twitter @NJSNARegion5. If you are

not receiving emails from NJSNA Region 5, please

log into your account on the NJSNA home page and

ensure that the correct email address is listed. Also,

check your spam folders for messages from noreply@

mail.com since these might be blast emails from

NJSNA.

Region 6

Atlantic, Cape May,

Monmouth, Ocean

Jacqueline Bortu BSN, RNC-OB, CBC,

C-ONQS, VP Communications

Hello Region 6 nurses! We hope you are having

a wonderful Summer so far! Region 6 members

participated in a lovely St. Patty’s Day fellowship

meeting on March 29th at the home of the Region

6 President, Renee White. Recent policies, events,

and NJSNA matters were discussed. Thank you to

everyone who was able to join us!

April’s board meeting kicked off a review of our

upcoming calendar events and a discussion of how

best to serve the nurses of region 6. Our current board

members are eager to mentor and engage new and

existing members who are interested in getting more

involved. Region 6 can be whatever the members want

it to be. All suggestions and ideas are welcome.

Upcoming events include a general membership

meeting that will be held on Tuesday, July 26th from

10am-2pm in Long Beach Island. This meeting is a

fellowship event to promote skin cancer awareness.

We will be doing skin cancer screenings near the

beach in LBI. There will also be diabetes awareness

event called, “What’s Your Number?” a day of diabetes

awareness and education on September 27th. Region

6 members are encouraged to participate in this multiagency

event, more details to come.

Region 6 just held their annual membership event

at Captain’s Inn in Forked River on Tuesday June

28th at 8pm. The topic of discussion was be “The

Aging Nurse: What do you Wanna Be When U Grow

Up.” How to know when it’s time to hang up your

stethoscope or move on to another specialty. The

nursing profession and many of its career options

were discussed. Region 6 nurses are so talented and

have so many unique ways to contribute to the health

and wellness of each other and to our community.

Donated gift baskets were raffled off to lucky

members. The proceeds benefit the Region 6 Beulah

Miller Scholarship for Nursing Education scholarship

fund.

Please join our Facebook page, “New Jersey State

Nurses Association Region 6.” We look forward

to your input and participation. Invite your friends

and consider joining a committee. At each of our

upcoming events we will be raffling off a few ANA/

NJSNA memberships. Please bring your friends and

colleagues for a chance to win and be a part of our

network, community, and resources.

Call for Nominations: please contact Denise Nash

at Dnash918@hotmail.com to learn more about the

open positions within the region.

Region 6 members: If you did not receive

an email blast from NJSNA about the Region’s

educational meetings this year, please contact

jennifer@njsna.org to verify and update your

membership information.

RNs & LPNs

Matheny, whose main campus is located in Peapack, NJ, is a special hospital

and school for children and adults with medically complex developmental

disabilities and a comprehensive outpatient center meeting the health care

needs of people with all types of disabilities in the community. Matheny has 7

group homes located in Somerset and Warren Counties, NJ, which provide a

residence in the community for adults.

Come join our dynamic team that makes a difference

every day in the lives of our special children and adults.

We are hiring!

Registered Nurse at our specialized Hospital, Full Time

and Per Diem Shifts | Licensed Practical Nurses at our

Group Homes, Full Time and Per Diem Shifts

View our openings and apply today!

Visit www.matheny.org or email us at jobs@matheny.org.


IFN Report

Sandra Foley, DNP, RN

IFN Mission is to

preserve the heritage,

principles, values, and

practices of our healing

profession through the

support of scholarship,

education and research.

IFN Vision is to engender

the spirit of giving to nurture

the soul of nursing now and

for future generations.

Sandy Foley

“YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT”

Linda Gural, MSN, RN

“WINNER OF THE IFN 2021 HONDA CRV”

CARING & SHARING 50/50 RAFFLE

AND THE WINNER IS…

Dr. Leo-Felix Jurado

Dr. Sandy Foley & Dr. Leo-Felix Jurado

This year’s IFN's fundraising campaign continued to

thrive with the launch of the Caring & Sharing 50/50

Raffle.

Through the tremendous help of the IFN Board of

Trustees, NJSNA Board of Directors, and donors like

you the 50/50 Raffle was a huge success. On Friday,

May 6 we gathered at NJSNA’s headquarters to draw

the winning ticket. Congratulations go to Dr. Leo-

Felix Jurado.

Much gratitude to the IFN Fundraising Committee

member Andrew Haviland for his timely management

of the ticket orders and to IFN Public Trustee and

Fundraising Committee member Kristin Buckley

for the new design and administration of the

institutefornursing.org webpage. In addition, thank

you to IFN Vice Chair and Fundraising Committee

member Dely Go for her steadfast dedication,

generosity, and community outreach in support of

the fundraisers. Also, thanks to IFN Public Trustee

and Fundraising Committee member Jennifer Smith

who was instrumental in facilitating the fundraising

campaign.

And most importantly, thank you to all who

donate to our fundraising events which support our

commitment to nursing in NJ. My deepest gratitude to

YOU for your generosity and support.

One of the many ways your charitable donations

benefit the nurses of NJ is through the IFN

Scholarship Program. This year, after a twoyear

hiatus, IFN scholarships were awarded to the

recipients at the NJSNA Annual Meeting /Education

Program. The awardees expressed their appreciation

of our generous gift and remarked that the scholarship

helps to ease the financial burden and allow them

to continue in their academic journey. Scholarships

make a difference, thank you.

At the Diva and Don Gala on April 7, 2022,

NJSNA honored an elite group of NJ nurses for their

excellence in the profession of nursing with a record

number of attendees. The IFN, recognized 16 NJ

nurses for their efforts to advance wellness, promote

health care initiatives, and for exhibiting extraordinary

leadership. The IFN showcased Diva Judith Persichilli,

R.N., B.S.N., M.A. the first nurse to serve as NJ

Commissioner of Health. NJ Assemblywoman Nancy

Munoz, RN, MSN-CNS even joined the celebration.

The evening surpassed the expectations of all

attendees. The proceeds from the Gala allow the IFN

to continue to support the profession of nursing in NJ.

Thank you to the NJ nurses who joined us

on March 10, 2022 for NJ Devils Nurses Night.

Highlights of the evening included: In-game

recognition for NJ nurses throughout the night,

limited edition NJ Devils scrubs-my favorite, group

photo on center ice after the game, and a portion of

each ticket purchased was donated to the IFN. The

success of the 2022 NJ Devils IFN Nurses Night

guarantees that there will be a repeat of the event in

2023.

Jess Narciso, NJ Devils representative,

Andrew Haviland, NJSNA and IFN Fundraising

Committee member

Sandy Foley, Chair, IFN

Our Old York Cellars Winery and Vineyard

fundraiser remains successful. We would like to thank

IFN Board of Trustee, Kristin Buckley, and amateur

artist, Brandon Foley, who designed the three wine

labels for the Old York Cellars Winery Spring 2022

collection. When you purchase your Old York Cellars

Wine with our label a portion of the sale will be

donated to the IFN! You can find more information for

purchases at Old York Cellars Winery and Vineyards.

This is a great gift anytime of the year and it supports

the IFN. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

We look forward to our upcoming events in 2023

which include the C.A.R.E.S Award Gala and the IFN

Scholarship program. Who is your nurse inspiration

and who do you aspire to be like? So, think about

who you will nominate for our next Gala in 2023.

In addition, the 2023 scholarship applications will

be accepted in early 2023, consider encouraging a

nursing student to apply for a scholarship or if you

are continuing your education consider applying for a

scholarship.

Stay health and enjoy your summer, Hiking in NJ,

https://www.njhiking.com/easy-hikes/.

Happiness,

Happiness Podcast

Respectively submitted,

Sandy Foley, DNP, RN

Chair, Institute for Nursing

sbkbfoley@gmail.com

sandra@njsna.org

Instagram @ NJ_ Institute_for_Nursing


In Memoriam – Shirley Smoyak, RN, PhD, FAAN

Linda Flynn, PhD, RN, FAAN

Dean & Professor, Rutgers School of Nursing,

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Dr. Shirley A. Smoyak

passed away peacefully at

home in Edison, NJ on April

1, 2022, and nursing lost

a pioneer and international

icon in the advanced

specialty of Psychiatric-

Mental Health Nursing. The

following are Dr. Lucille

Joel's reflections on the

contribution of Dr. Smoyak to

nursing:

Dr. Shirley Smoyak and her mentor, Hildegarde

Peplau, established and nurtured the first graduate

level specialty in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

in the world - right here at Rutgers School of

Nursing. Based on their work, the NJ Board of

Nursing began to certify APNs, predating the

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

certification by years. The certification recognized

nurse-psychotherapists. Peplau-Smoyak's theoretical

framework is as useful and therapeutic today as it

was in its inception, and it has been the backbone

of my practice all these years. It has survived and

surpassed iterations in the field.

As a psychiatric nurse and healthcare sociologist,

Dr. Smoyak has served as a faculty member in the

Rutgers, the State University, School of Nursing since

1960. She has also served in the Rutgers Edward

J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy,

directing their Program in Public Health; the School

of Public Health, teaching health policy and directing

graduate practicum students; and the Division of

Continuing Studies, producing documentary films

and DVDs. She was a developing faculty as the

Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional

Psychology (GSAPP) began. In her more than a half

century of teaching, she has developed and taught

graduate and undergraduate courses in psychiatric

and mental health nursing, family dynamics, health

care administration, culture and health, and qualitative

research methods.

Dr. Smoyak is a recognized expert in matters of

psychiatry and institutional and community care

of persons with mental illness. She was a courtappointed

member of the Doe v. Klein Monitoring

Body, whose role was to oversee Greystone Park

Psychiatric Hospital from 1977 to 2012. She chaired

that group and delivered reports to the presiding

judge. Largely as a result of her work at Greystone

and other state hospitals, she was the 1991 recipient

of the Rutgers Presidential Award for Distinguished

Public Service. She has presented workshops on

psychiatry and mental health at state hospitals and

universities in all of the United States (U.S.) and 15

foreign countries.

For her work with international nursing groups,

Dr. Smoyak has received many honors, such as

the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement from the

Royal College of Nursing, London, and the Network

for Psychiatric Nursing Researchers. She received

an Honorary Doctorate in 2009 from Kensington

University, London. The Maltese Psychiatric Nurses’

Association designated her as a Distinguished Scholar

in 2014.

With Hildegard E. Peplau, recognized as the

outstanding psychiatric nurse of the 20th century, she

traveled throughout the U.S. during summer months,

conducting week or month-long workshops on the

clinical practice in psychiatric nursing. This work

continued from the early 1960s to the mid-1980s.

Settings included federal and state hospitals and

university summer sessions. Some of the workshops

were credit generating and some continuing studies.

Dr. Smoyak’s contribution to the curriculum was

family therapy. Students were assigned families and

conducted the sessions in the homes of the families.

With Southwest American Indian tribes, the sessions

were in a community setting.

Dr. Smoyak was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of

Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services

(JPN), having been appointed in 1981. JPN is the only

monthly journal for psychiatric nurses in the U.S. and

the world. She oversaw the solicitation, recruitment,

review, and production processes, as well as writing

editorials and general articles. As Editor of JPN, she

was the founding member of the American Psychiatric

Nurses’ Association (APNA) and has been recognized

by her peers with the Founder’s Award, bestowed in

1990.

Professional associations have always been the

interest of Dr. Smoyak. She was a Charter Member

of the New Jersey Society of Certified Clinical

Specialists in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

helping to write the first certifying examination in

1972. New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA)

has given her many awards over the years, such as

the Roll of Honor and Excellence in Practice. She

was a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of

Nursing (AAN) nominated by NJSNA in 1973. As a

Charter Fellow, she was instrumental in developing an

organization agenda, funding, by-laws, and operating

procedures. In 2004, the AAN awarded her the

distinction of being a Living Legend.

Among Dr. Smoyak’s research projects were

monitoring bodies for psychiatric hospitals, stalking of

clinicians, high energy drinks (HED) (with and without

alcohol), and energy shots. Consumers of mental

health services, students, and psychiatric nurses were

the participants in one of her recent studies on their

knowledge, attitudes and practices of HED.

Dr. Smoyak was a baccalaureate graduate of the

Rutgers College of Nursing. She earned a Master of

Science degree, with Hildegard E. Peplau as her

mentor. Her doctorate was in Sociology, Graduate

Program in Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ.


Advanced Practice Nurse Roles: Too Many Choices?

Amita Avadhani, Ph.D.,

DNP, NEA-BC, CNE, DCC,

ACNP-BC, NP-C, CCRN,

FAANP, FCCM

Forum of Nurses in

Advanced Practice,

Immediate Past President

The State of New Jersey

utilizes the term Advanced

Practice Nurse (APN) to refer

to Nurse Practitioners (NP),

Clinical Nurse Specialists Amita Avadhani

(CNS), Nurse Anesthetists,

and Nurse Midwives. The Forum of Nurses in

Advanced Practice (FNAP) of New Jersey State

Nurses Association advocates for APNs across the

state and recognizes the need to clarify various roles

and opportunities that are available to the prospective

nurses. While NPs and CNSs with prescriptive

authority have interchangeable roles, other roles are

not. It is important to acknowledge that an APN in

New Jersey is equivalent to an Advanced Practice

Registered Nurse (APRN), which is the terminology

utilized by the American Association of Colleges

of Nursing. This article aims to point out the key

differences among various NP education pathways

and roles for nurses with a Bachelor of Science in

Nursing (BSN).

According to Stanley (2008), APRN education

is graduate-level education in one of the four roles

of certified NPs, CNSs, Certified Registered Nurse

Anesthetists (CRNA), and Certified Nurse Midwives

(CNM). APRN specialties are based on population

focus within the educational program. Population

foci refer to APRN specialties which include family/

individual across the life span, adult-gerontology,

neonatal, pediatrics, women’s health/gender-related,

and psychiatric mental health (Stanley, 2008). In

addition to the educational preparation for these roles,

state licensure and national certification are required

to practice as an APN in NJ. Adult gerontology and

pediatric roles are further branched into acute care

and ambulatory populations (Buck, 2021; Stanley,

2008).

So, what does this mean? Nurses with a BSN who

are contemplating furthering their education in an

APN role should seek observational experiences by

shadowing an APN who works in the specific role

they are interested in. This may mean that one must

shadow multiple APNs to make the most informed

decision. However, seeking shadowing experiences

is well worth the time to identify the most satisfying

role that aligns with one’s passion. Decisions should

not be made about financially and temporally

expensive educational programs based on a national

salary survey or job market as these are temporary

factors based on supply and demand as well as other

fluctuations. Choosing an educational program

based on your passion, population of interest, and

prior nursing experiences will make the most of your

academic program, associated certification, licensure,

and career. The right educational program with the

proper population focus and role has the potential the

bring out the best in you as a professional, and it is a

“win-win” for all!!

Buck, M. (2021). An update on the consensus model for

APRN regulation: More than a decade of progress.

Journal of Nursing Regulation, 12(2), 23–33. https://

doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(21)00053-3

Stanley, J. (2012). Impact of new regulatory standards on

advanced practice registered nursing: the APRN

consensus model and LACE. The Nursing Clinics

of North America, 47(2), 241–250. https://doi.

org/10.1016/j.cnur.2012.02.001



Diva and Don Gala

The IFN was founded in 1988. The mission and vision of the IFN is to nurture

the spirit and passion of nursing now and in the future by preserving the heritage,

principles, values, and practices of the healing profession of nursing. Supporting

the IFN translates to upholding the good work of NJSNA, the association which

strives to protect, support, and advocate for nursing practice.

Congratulations again to the IFN 2022 Divas and Dons! Who is your nurse

inspiration and who do you aspire to be like? So, think about who you will

nominate for our next Gala in 2023.

NEW JERSEY HEALTHCARE DIVA

Judith Persichilli, MA, BSN, RN

New Jersey Commissioner of Health

DIVA AND DON WINNERS

Thomas Amitrano, MPA, RN

Vice President, Patient Care Services and

Chief Nursing Officer

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Front Row left to right; Franklin Hickey, Chung Huey Ho, Amita Avadhani,

Shanda Johnson, Thomas Amitrano, Juvy Montecalvo-Acosta , Suzanne

Drake Second row left to right; Susanne Walther, Marley Nicolas, Linda

Carroll, Avril Keldo, Linda Joan Hassler, Varsha Singh, Sheila Caldwell

Cynthia Samuel, not pictured Judith Persichilli

At the Diva and Don Gala on April 7, 2022, the New Jersey State Nurses

Association (NJSNA) honored an elite group of New Jersey (NJ) nurses for

their excellence in the profession of nursing. The Institute for Nursing (IFN),

the foundation of NJSNA, recognized 16 New Jersey nurses for their efforts to

advance wellness, promote health care initiatives, and for exhibiting extraordinary

leadership. Special recognition was given to Diva Judith Persichilli, the first nurse

to serve as NJ Commissioner of Health, for her leadership during the COVID-19

pandemic.

The proceeds from IFN events, such as the Diva and Don Gala, are used to

fund the IFN scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students to further

their education. In addition, the IFN also provides quality continuing education

programs and grants for nurses involved in research.

Amita Avadhani, PhD, DNP, NEA-BC, CNE, DCC,

ACNP-BC, NP-C, CCRN, FAANP,

FCCM Associate Professor

Rutgers University, Newark

Sheila Caldwell, BSN, RN, CSN-NJ

School Nurse

Cliffwood Elementary School

Linda Carroll, MSN, RN, RN-BC

Vice President, Patient Care Services

Chief Nursing Officer

Saint Peter’s University Hospital

Suzanne Drake, PhD, APN

Owner, Director

The Wellness Group of New Jersey, LLC

Linda Joan Hassler, DNP, RN, GCNS-BC, CNE, FGNLA

Director, Nursing Excellence,

Hackensack Meridian Health Nursing and Rehabilitation,

Assistant Professor, Rutgers University School of Nursing

Chung Huey Ho, MSN, RNC, CLNC

Nursing Educator

Jersey City Medical Center

Franklin Hickey, PhD, RN, NEA-BC

Vice President, Ambulatory Care Services

University Hospital New Jersey

Shanda Johnson, PhD, APN-C, FNP

Assistant Professor

New Jersey City University

Avril Keldo, DNP, MSN, ANP-BC, RN-BC, OCN

Director, Professional Practice

Saint Peter’s University Hospital

Juvy Montecalvo-Acosta, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, CWCN

Manager, Clinical Nursing Education

Riverview Medical Center

Marley Nicolas, MSN, RN

Assistant Vice President, Nursing Services

Community Medical Center

Cynthia Samuel, PhD, RN. CSN-NJ

School Nurse

Irvington Board of Education

Varsha Singh, DNP, APN, CT-CP, NEA-BC, FAHA

Neuroscience, Stroke Program Manager

St. Joseph’s University Medical Center

Susanne Walther, MA, RN, APN, ACHPN

APN Director of Palliative Care Services

University Hospital

Diva & Don Sponsorship

It is through the generosity, and support of the member organizations, health

care employers, and local businesses, the Institute can continue to support the

profession of nursing here in New Jersey.

• Diamond Sponsor – Saint Peter’s Healthcare System

• Platinum Sponsor – Hackensack Meridian Health

• Platinum Sponsor – Rider University

• Silver Sponsor – Chamberlain College of Nursing

• Bronze Sponsor – Dr. Barbara Chamberlain


What is “Quality Leadership in

Nursing”?

Donna L. Castellani, MSN.Ed, RN, CNE

If you were asked to describe what “quality leadership in nursing” means

to you, what would your answer be? Is it someone who is fair and trusting, or a

good communicator and with an even demeanor? Quality leadership in nursing

is becoming more evident as an important role in improving clinical outcomes,

enhancing patient satisfaction, and increasing employee retention (University of

Michigan, 2021).

Unfortunately, developing quality nurse leaders has often been a low

priority for many institutions. The nursing profession is faced by three areas

of particular concern to current nurse leaders: the growing baby boomer

population, the increased medical service demands by this group, and the large

number of registered nurses who will soon retire or who are voluntarily leaving

the profession. It is estimated that three million baby boomers born 1946-1964

will turn 65 each year for the next 20 years (Dyess, Sherman, Pratt, & Chiang-

Hanisko, 2016, para.1). It was further estimated that more than 50% of the

nursing workforce was comprised of nurses born between 1980 and 2000 in the

year 2020 (Dyess, et al, 2016, para.1). Because of the growing concern, many

more health systems are now creating formal leadership opportunities for their

nurses. So, what exactly does “quality leadership in nursing” look like? What

are the characteristics and qualities that nurses must nurture to become strong,

competent leaders?

Many articles have been written discussing that very question. Some articles list

twenty characteristics, others list other numbers. However, a few key characteristics

and qualities seem to be repeated over and over. Accountability is one such

characteristic. Quality nurse leaders must be willing to accept responsibility for their

failures as well as their successes – viewing errors as an opportunity for growth

(University of Michigan, 2021). Authenticity and empathy are two characteristics

which allow nursing leaders to meet moral dilemmas without compromising their

own values. The qualities of integrity and respect should be modeled by the leader’s

words and actions, which will encourage staff to do the same. A quality nurse leader

must be motivational. Nursing is a stressful occupation; cultivating and celebrating

successes will allow staff to feel empowered to grow (University of Michigan, 2021).

Quality nurse leaders are service-oriented. They develop a culture of service which

put people first, even in stressful, overwhelming, or frustrating circumstances.

Emotional intelligence is a key characteristic. Nurse leaders work at all levels with

many people. Developing emotional intelligence will help them cope with the stress

of working with others in a fast-paced, emotionally charged environment. Finally,

the quality nurse leader must have courage. They must realize that when in times of

crisis, the leader must not be intimidated. The leader must believe that even in times

of turbulence, there is an extraordinary opportunity for growth (Gavin, 2020).

Developing quality nurse leaders must become a priority. Institutions must

be encouraged to provide leadership training and mentorship programs. Nurses

should be supported when they express a desire to move into a leadership role.

As nurses, we are all leaders, whether formally or informally. As Maggie Hansen,

the first Chief Nursing Executive (CNE) with Memorial Healthcare System states,

“When you realize that three fourths of all employees in the health system or

nurses or on the nursing team…it is important to have the (nurse leader) voice at

the executive table” (University of Michigan, 2021).

References

Dyess, S., Sherman, R., Pratt, B., & Chaing-Hanisko, L. (2016). Growing nurse leaders:

Their perspectives on nursing leadership and today’s practice environment. OJIN

21(1). Ojn.nursingworld.org

Gavin, M. (2020). 5 characteristics of a courageous leader. Harvard Business School

Online Business Insights (March 3, 2020). Online.hbs.edu

University of Michigan School of Nursing (2021). 20 required qualities for leadership roles

in nursing. (September 22, 2021). Online.nursing.umich.edu

Protect Your Skin This Summer

Elsie A. Rivera, DNP, APN, FNP-C

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, with millions of cases

diagnosed each year in the United States. Skin cancers include non-melanoma

skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma

affecting over three million Americans yearly. According to the American Cancer

Society, melanoma accounts for 1% of skin cancers, but is the leading cause of

most skin cancer related deaths. In 2022, it is estimated that about 197, 700 new

cases of melanoma will be diagnosed, 97,920 noninvasive (in situ) and 99,780

invasive melanomas, which is approximately 57,180 in men and 42,600 in

women. In addition, 7,670 are expected to die, 5080 in men and 2570 women.

Risk factors for melanoma include age, excessive UV exposure, fair skin

complexion, multiple moles, family history and a weakened immune system.

Before the of age 50, rates are higher in women compared to men. After age

50 men have higher rates of melanoma. The annual incidence rate of melanoma

in non-Hispanic Whites is over 33 per 100,000, compared to 4.5 for Hispanics

and 1 per 100,000 in Blacks. Disease burden however is greater in individuals of

darker skin complexions and are less likely to survive melanoma due to diagnosis

in its later stages.

Early detection and prevention strategies are key to lowering the incidence

of melanoma. The Centers of Disease Control estimates that 98-99% of early

melanomas are curable if discovered early, as the disease burden increases with

later stages. Early signs of melanoma include a new or changing mole that is

bleeding, ulcerated or not healing. The ABCDE mnemonic for Asymmetry, Border

irregularities, Color variations, Diameter and Evolving lesion is used to identify

irregular moles.

Nurses can help increase awareness, promote healthy skin care habits, and

education about melanoma. Educating patients can help them understand

preventative measures and the importance of monthly skin self-examinations and

yearly dermatology visits.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends:

• Avoiding sun exposure between the peak hours of 10 am and 4pm

• Seek shade while outdoors

• Avoid tanning beds

• Wear protective clothing: hats and ultraviolet approved sunglasses

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (at least SPF 30) and reapply every two

hours with UV exposure

Have a safe and healthy summer.

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The Time is Now for Nurses to Lead

Nina Vaid Raoji, DNP, APN, MSN, RN and

Edna Cadmus, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) released the Future of Nursing

2020-2030, Charting a Path for Achieving Health Equity in May 2021. They

put forth a call to action for nurses across all settings and levels, along with key

partnerships, to begin working together to identify priority areas in addressing the

social determinants of health and health equity in our country (NAM, 2021). The

report provides nine recommendations and 54 sub-recommendations.

Leading the effort in New Jersey (NJ), the New Jersey Action Coalition (NJAC),

embedded in New Jersey Collaborating Center for New Jersey, identified four

recommendations that are particularly relevant for our state: Nursing faculty

shortages, nurse’s emotional health and well-being, Advance Practice Nurse’s

(APNs) role in improving access to care by removing practice barriers in licensure,

and nursing education (see Figure 1).

NJAC/NJCCN/NJNI hosted statewide thought leaders inclusive of

professional nursing and trade organizations, unions, community leaders, nonprofit

organizations, academic organizations, and practice leaders to identify

key action items and markers of success for each of the recommendations via a

virtual summit. The summit was held on November 5, 2021 and facilitated by

an external group that helped in the planning and identification of the priorities.

During the summit, leaders discussed interventions for the six-month period, and

the 18-month long term plan – creating action plans to guide the work in NJ. It

was essential that the suggested stakeholders and action items were priorities for

nurses in our state.

The action plans from the summit have created shared agendas for

organizations to work collectively to improve health and healthcare in the state.

Dr. Nina Vaid Raoji was engaged as a consultant to strategize and mobilize the

priorities for NJ. Her role is to meet with the workgroups and stakeholders and

to identify organizations and individuals who can assist in the identified priority

areas. Ensuring the right people are at the table will be instrumental in moving

the needle. The workgroups meet monthly with facilitated conversations and

collaboration by Dr. Raoji. Expanding the teams beyond the silos of nursing has

been a key focus.

What is required to address the future state of nursing in NJ? Innovative

partnerships with sectors in and outside of health care, such as with Amazon,

J&J, and Google, will be vital. Funding at the state and national level will be

essential to meet and mobilize these recommendations. Increasing the number of

nurses and nursing faculty in the state will be paramount. Expanding statewide

access to healthcare for all NJ residents by removing restrictions to APN practice

will be critical. And finally, supporting the mental health and well-being of nurses

through NJ Nurses Emotional Well-being Institute’s (NJ-NEW) Virtual Schwartz

Rounds, Nurse 2 Nurse peer support line, and Stress First Aid programs will be

necessary, so that nurses can continue to provide the holistic care that is needed

in the communities they serve. While these are formattable changes needed for

NJ, key organizations working collectively can make these recommendations a

reality by 2030.

Reference:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2021). The Future of Nursing

2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Washington, DC: The

National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25982.


The New Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education:

A Message for Prospective NP Students

Lori Prol PhD, APN, FNP-BC Assistant Professor

of Nursing

Kathryn Wink-Gilligan, Rider University

On April 7, 2022, the National Task Force

on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (NTF)

published the sixth edition of standards to assess the

effectiveness of nurse practitioner (NP) programs.

These revisions establish the criteria of quality when

evaluating the mission, faculty, resources, curriculum,

clinical education, and continuous program

improvement in NP programs seeking or maintaining

accreditation. The revisions discussed below are

exemplars to better prepare NP students for the

challenges in today’s healthcare environment.

One influential factor in the revisions is nursing

education’s transition to competency-based education

(CBE) (AACN, 2021). CBE is measured by students’

achieving the knowledge, skills, and experiences.

Despite the timing in which students achieve these

competencies, it does not eliminate the minimum

number of direct care clinical hours. The new

standards require that NP students complete a

minimum of 750 direct care patient hours as

compared to 500 hours in the earlier edition (NTF,

2016 & 2022). NP certification exam organizations

continue the minimum requirement of 500 direct

patient care hours for exam eligibility, yet several

schools already incorporated 750 or more in their

curricula. Prospective students can expect this change

to occur on a broad scale soon.

Simulation is another influence in the 2022 NTF

Standards. The value of simulation in teaching and

assessing NP skills, especially for experiences that

students have limited access to in the clinical setting,

was noted by the NTF committee (2022). Despite the

value of the objective structure clinical examination,

high-fidelity simulation, and skills lab, the hours spent

in these activities cannot be used as direct patient care

hours. Telehealth hours are included in direct patient

care hours if the experience provides NP students

with patient assessments, clinical decision-making

opportunities, and evaluation of patient outcomes.

The significance on diversity, equity and inclusion

(DEI) is a major influence on the revision of the

NTF standards (2022). These measures will foster

a scrutiny of processes surrounding past disparities

in academia. Strategies, resources, and policies to

expand diversity and opportunities to support equity

and inclusion among NP students, faculty, and staff

in nursing programs will be evaluated. Some areas

of improvement are holistic admissions processes,

academic resources for disadvantaged students, and

Cannabis

Keeping Children, Youth, and Pets Safe

the retention of students and faculty from diverse

backgrounds.

Prospective NP students will appreciate the

revisions defining faculty to student ratios. These

ratios prove that programs have enough dedicated

faculty to support student success and program

effectiveness (NTF, 2022). The prior standards defined

faculty to student ratios for faculty teaching clinicals

and precepting students in the clinical setting (NTF,

2016). According to the new standards, programs

supply enough qualified faculty for all matriculated

students for classroom, online, and clinical settings.

The new standards ensure students have more faculty

access, oversight and opportunities for frequent,

substantive feedback as they transition into a new role

and scope of practice in nursing.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021). The

essentials: core competencies for professional nurse

education. Washington, DC: American Association of

Colleges of Nursing.

National Task Force. (2016). Criteria for evaluation of nurse

practitioner programs, A report of the national task

force on quality nurse practitioner education, 5th

Edition.

National Task Force. (2022). Standards for quality nurse

practitioner education, A report of the national task

force on quality nurse practitioner education, 6th

Edition.

Beth Knox DNP, APN

In the State of New Jersey, “cannabis” otherwise

known as “marijuana” is now legally approved for

prescribed medicinal cannabis use as well as personal

recreational use. The State of New Jersey Cannabis

Regulatory Commission is the agency charged with

oversight of establishing rules, regulations, and approval

of all licensed dispensaries for both types of cannabis

use. Their webpage offers a wealth of information

about “safe and responsible consumption” of cannabis

and how it affects the adult user and potential harm to

children who are exposed to various forms of cannabis.

Cannabis contains variable levels of THC, a

psychoactive component, that can affect general

movement, coordination, balance and judgement,

thus one must address the issue of “safety and

responsibility” when making a decision to use

cannabis. It is known that use of cannabis can induce

a “feeling good” state of mind, increased appetite,

and mild disorientation. The majority of healthcare

organizations do not condone the use of cannabis due

to the potential for developing a state of impairment

that may lead to acts of poor judgement in the care of

patients and even their own family members.

Adults, parents, and pregnant women have a

responsibility to understand how use of cannabis in

any form has potential to cause harm to an unborn

child, children, teens, and pets. Children and youth

who have easy access to cannabis products are at

risk for significant adverse short and long-term health

effects and potential overdose intoxication.

What are the potential health effects on your

fetus?

• THC can pass through your system to your baby

• Low birth weight

• Abnormal neurological development (brain)

• Harm from second hand cannabis smoke

• Risk of early delivery

What are the potential long-term effects on

children?

* Affects brain development: attention, memory,

and learning, problem-solving skills, & behavior.

* May not do as well in school due to trouble

remembering

* Smoking cannabis can lead to lung damage.

* Impaired driving safety- slow reaction time,

impaired

* Mental health: anxiety, paranoia, thoughts of

suicide may occur depending on the frequency

of cannabis use

What are the potential long-term effects on teens?

* Affects brain development such as attention,

memory, and learning.

What are the potential health effects to

pregnant women?

• Possible lung injury from smoking cannabis

things.

• Dizziness and risk of falling

• Impaired judgement resulting in injury

• Lower levels of oxygen in the body/breathing

problems coordination, distorted perception.

What are the possible health effects to a

newborn?

• Research is still in progress, but consider the

following: and dose level of THC in the product

used.

• Avoid exposure to second hand cannabis

smoke.

• Cannabis chemicals (THC) can be passed

through breastfeeding.

• Consider stopping use of any cannabis products

in the presence of your children, if you choose

to use cannabis. if you are breast feeding your

baby.

How to protect children, teens, and pets from

harm?

* Set the example: Don’t smoke or partake of

cannabis

* Store cannabis products out of the reach of

children, minors, and pets. Keeping it in a

secure, locked place is best.

* Keep cannabis and cannabis products out of

sight, particularly those might look like food or

candy to a child.

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR,

NURSING

The College seeks qualified individuals to instruct courses

for an accredited Nursing Associate Degree program.

Description of Duties: Teach courses in subject matter as assigned.

Minimum Requirements: Master’s Degree in Nursing and New

Jersey licensure required. Recent clinical experience and/or

teaching experience preferred.

Rate of Pay: $825 per credit hour

For full job description and application, please visit

https://jobs.brookdalecc.edu/postings/207

* Teaching children to always stop and ask an

adult before eating goodies or snacks around

the house.

* Do not share your marijuana with anyone under

21 years old.

In case of an emergency: If you think you,

someone else, or your pet may have cannabis

poisoning or toxicity, call New Jersey Poison Center

at 1-800-222-1222 or chat/text at www.njpies.org to

connect with a healthcare professional. If the person

is unconscious or non-responsive call 911

For more information about Marijuana and Children

visit: https://cdc.gov/search/?query=marijuana%20

and%20children&dpage=1

For more information about Marijuana and Pregnancy

visit: https://www.acog.org/search#q=marijuana%20

and%20pregnancy&sort=relevancy

For more information about the Cannabis

Regulatory Commission: Safe & Responsible

Consumption visit: https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/

adult-personal/safe-responsible-consumption/

Get started today!

succeed.BerkeleyCollege.edu/main or 800-446-5400

Certified School Nurse

Pay Range: $53,555-$96,625

For questions, please contact 973-321-1000 or send

your resume to microdriguez@paterson.k12.nj.us

or to jscafe@paterson.k12.nj.us


Kem Louie, PhD, RN, APN, FAAN –

Reflection on 50 years in Nursing

By Renee F. Pevour MS RN

If you know Dr. Kem

Louie, what comes to mind

is a kindhearted professional

educator who shepherded many

individual nursing students and

also grew multiple graduate

education programs. As William

Paterson University initially

started discussing adding fully

online graduate programs, Dr.

Louie was one of the first to say

Dr. Kem Louie

“Yes, William Paterson University nursing needs to do this.” As a result, within 2

years, the online masters nursing program now has over 500 students. And the

fully online RN-BSN program has over 700 students. She has also been actively

involved as the Director of the Graduate Program and initiated the Doctor of

Nursing Practice Program.

Dr. Louie’s nursing career has not just been about increasing the numbers of

nurses. Dr. Louie started with a desire to help people. Dr. Louie states “It’s difficult

looking back on nursing - the time surprisingly went fast and as I reflect on the

changes in the nursing profession. I remember early on how much I wanted to

help others and couldn’t wait to practice after passing the boards.” She goes

on to say, “one of my earliest memories is attending my first American Nurses

Association annual meetings. The national speakers were hopeful and motivating

and I knew then I was in the right profession.” She joined NJSNA in 1972. There

was so much going on in the political area and she recalls being on the Legislative

committee when the NJSNA first proposed the Advanced Practice Nurse – APN

bill… and it was passed. “It was exciting to feel this success and today, others

continue the fight.”

In reflecting on her many achievements during her career, Dr. Louie reported,

“I think my greatest achievement was being the national founding President of the

Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association and a founding member of the

National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations. This group ‘advocates

for equity and justice in nursing and health care for ethnic minority populations.’

One honor that Dr. Louie humbly, did not talk about, but is worthy of

mentioning: She was invited into the Fellowship of the American Academy of

Nursing (FAAN). The American Academy of Nursing's (Academy's) mission is to

improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing

leadership, innovation, and science. This is a select group of nursing leaders

impacting the health of the nation.

Most of Dr. Louie’s nursing career has been in academia. She has taught

nursing students from the associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral

programs. Recently, she was honored with the Nurse Educator Award by the

NJSNA (New Jersey State Nurses Association) Dr. Louie states she “will always

be proud to teach each generation of nurses to provide care, evidence based

interventions, and comfort to those in need.”

It has been the privilege of many to work alongside of one of our professions

most kindhearted leaders who practiced with strong determination and vision. We

thank you Dr. Louie for your contribution, service, and mentorship – your vision

will continue.

Two New Jersey School Nurses

Receive National Recognition

Eileen Gavin, MSN, FNP-BC, NCSN (NJSSNA President-Elect) and

Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FAAN (NASN Director for NJSSNA)

New Jersey State School Nurses Association (NJSSNA) proudly announces two

innovative nurse leaders for national recognition through the National Association

of School Nurses (NASN). The school nurses were celebrated at NASN’s national

conference in Atlanta, Georgia on June 30, 2022. They were among the best of

the best school nurses recognized from across the nation.

Mary Ellen Engel, MSN, RN, NJ-CSN, is the 2022

NJ School Nurse Administrator of the Year.

Mary Ellen is a nursing Supervisor for North

Brunswick Township Schools who embraced the

challenges of the pandemic focusing on the needs of

the students, families, staff, and community. She was an

integral part of the district’s response and spokesperson

for the North Brunswick community. Mary Ellen identified

a need to build trust and confidence through education,

utilize technology to capture, analyze and disseminate

accurate data, and to provide accessible resources and

services to ensure healthy, safe, and caring schools.

Mary Ellen is a school nurse leader who met the challenges of COVID headon

from the beginning of the pandemic. She not only led the North Brunswick

Township school district’s COVID response, but was a founding member of the

state level think-tank that partnered with NASN to address the pandemic locally

and nationally. Mary Ellen is a visionary school nursing leader who is dedicated to

children’s health and amplifying the role of school nurses.

Roseanne Rowe – 2022 NJSSNA Excellence in

School Nursing Award

Roseanne is a champion for school nursing practice,

and NJSSNA enthusiastically announces that she is the

2022 Excellence in School Nursing, New Jersey School

Nurse of the Year. Roseanne is a powerhouse school

nurse who has devoted her career to the most challenging

and complex students. She works in an alternative junior/

senior high school with students who were recently

incarcerated and cannot yet enter the general school

population. Roseanne’s approach with her students is

one of unconditional positive regard, and the students

respond to her with respect and appreciation. She has earned a stellar reputation

throughout the state of New Jersey for her outstanding service to students.

Roseanne is an exemplary school nurse leader who challenges herself and her

students to be the best they can be every single day.

Roseanne has spent her career in service to others, especially her school

community. She has also been a mentor to countless New Jersey school nurse

certification students through her affiliation with Rutgers-Camden Nursing.

Those students who were privileged to have Roseanne as a preceptor left the

experience with a much broader sense of social responsibility, the impact of social

determinants of health, and an understanding of their own implicit biases.

NJSSNA proudly represents what is possible in school nursing leadership.

We encourage nurses across our state to consider the specialty practice

of school nursing. The autonomy and independence in practice may be

the change you need! Contact NJSSNA’s Executive Director, Marie Sasso,

njssnaexecutivedirector@gmail.com, for more information on how to become a

Certified School Nurse.

Now Hiring!

Pediatric LPN with current experience, an

unencumbered license, current BLS certification, and

fully vaccinated plus booster for COVID-19.

LPN and CMA for Covid Team – experience vaccinating

all age groups, unencumbered license, current BLS

certification, and fully vaccinated plus booster for

COVID-19. Spanish speaking preferred for all positions.

Contact Dr. Sirola today msirola@mfhcnj.org

270 Broadway, Long Branch, New Jersey | P: 732-923-7100 | F: 732-923-7104


School Nurse Fellows - FNASN

Writeup for NJSNA

Nursing Coalition Taking Shape

to Address Issues in Nursing

The National Association of School Nurses’ National Academy of School

Nursing Fellowship has selected three distinguished New Jersey State Nurses

Association school nurse members to be inducted as fellows in June 2022.

The Academy notes:

The honor of Fellow is the most prestigious recognition that members can

receive from the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). It is a symbol

of superior achievement in the school nursing profession and exceptional

contributions to NASN and the profession of school nursing. The depth and

breadth of the Fellow’s imprint on the field is extraordinary; their contributions

have had significant and enduring impact, and their exemplary leadership

qualities and achievements are recognized by many.

These three school nurses demonstrate all of what it means to be a 21st

Century School Nurse. Their passion, leadership and work in the specialty of

school nursing is truly expansive. The below information provides a taste of a

strong area from the National Academy of School Nursing criteria.

lives.

Beth E. Jameson, PhD, RN, CNL, CSN-NJ

Region 1

Beth’s major focus is research. Her program of

research focuses on addressing the policy context to

advance the science and research of school health and

school nursing. There are so many gaps in research

knowledge within our profession. Beth is proud to be a

co-founder and advisor for The Center for School Health

Innovation and Quality, a group of school health experts

that are committed to driving innovation in school health

research and leadership so students in every community

gain the tools needed to thrive in school and live healthy

Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FAAN

Region 5

Robin’s major focus is advocacy, especially in the

(social) media. Her area of focus has been advocacy for

safe school environments and for school nurses to use

their voices to educate the public about the importance

of school health and expansive scope of practice that

school nurses bring to school communities. Robin started

a blog titled, “The Relentless School Nurse” in 2017. It

is a platform for her to use her voice as well as providing

a space for other school nurses to voice speaking to

concerns of the profession.

Sheila Caldwell, BSN, RN, CSN-NJ

Region 6

Sheila’s major focus is unique contributions. Her focus

on empowering school nurses with information and

resources to critically address school nursing and school

health matters based on the given community needs.

Sheila is the administrator of NASN’s SchoolNurseNet

Discussion Communities (“All Members” and “School

Nurse-Open Forum”) since 2008. These are spaces

for NASN members, and even non-members, to

communicate about school nursing. Sheila been devoted

to providing information, posing important questions,

increasing the engagement and the sharing of ideas among the nurses in these

spaces.

Here is the link to the NASN press release - https://www.nasn.org/blogs/nasninc/2022/04/05/nasn-names-2022-fellows

If you are interested in contacting any one of these school nurses, you can

reach out to them through our directory in NJSNA MembersClick Community.

On June 3rd, 2021, the first meeting was held. NJSNA President, Mary Ellen

Levine, welcomed attendees. Determined by the NJSNA Board of Directors,

President Levine, Coalition Chair, presented topics: nursing shortage, nursing

faculty shortage, climate health, and diversity. A short synopsis of each was

offered. It didn’t take long before a discussion began. Initially, the conversations

were sharing of experiences, challenges, insight among nursing leaders.

Discussion regarding resources, ideas, and recognition of nursing’s need was

identified as ‘Creating a Shared Agenda,’ (National Academy of Sciences, 2021,

pg. 357).

At each meeting, reprioritizing the topics and brainstorming, among the

continued effects of the pandemic on each topic, had led to a point of saturation

of each topic at each meeting. In October 2021, reference was made to ‘Current

Nursing Shortages Could Have Long-Lasting Consequences: Time to Change Our

Present Course,’ (Buerhaus, 2021) coupled with the lack of pipeline to increasing

and reinforcing nursing faculty and the effect on the nursing shortage spawned

much discussion by the group.

In December 2021, the Coalition began with the topics of climate health

and diversity. Information was presented for an educational presentation and

Instagram, Climate_saveitnow. Employers were recognized and heralded as

‘going green.' On the topic of diversity, culturally sensitive and equitable care by a

diverse workforce was discussed. At the heart of the conversation was the release

of a film, “Black Men in White Coats,” (https://www.blackmeninwhitecoats.org/).

Efforts in diverse communities, nurses of color visit local schools are presenting

and discussing their nursing story. The challenge of many communities, it was

shared, is the misconceptions of the nurse’s role and addressing the needs of

students in socio-economically disadvantaged communities.

The nursing shortage: a multi-pronged issue from education to retention.

The New Jersey Collaborating Center workforce data have been highlighted.

Workplace environment challenges, travel nursing, salary discrepancies, and

overall the increasing numbers of nurses leaving their positions and the profession.

The faculty shortage: impact on future and present workforce, uptick in open

faculty positions, economic issues of students and higher education, the increased

need for nurses leading to expanding programs, disproportionate salaries,

professional credentialling costs, increasing responsibilities without appropriated

compensation.

Climate health: the backbone of our communities and overall health of all

individuals. Indeed, much accomplished by employers to recycle and dispose of

properly and individual nurses recognizing gardening during the pandemic,

recycle/reuse efforts, nurse led education, collaboration with local environmental

agencies.

Diversity: equity and diversifying the nursing workforce to better represent our

communities. Cultural and ethnic nursing organizations, in addition to diversity

within all organizations, candid and willingness to share struggles, resources, and

advances in addressing racism and prejudice by individuals, educational resources,

and institutional culture change.

The group chose to continue to meet, and more is to come!

References

Buerhaus, P. (2021). Current nursing shortages could have long-lasting consequences: Time

to change our present course. Nursing Economic$ (39)5.

National Academies of Sciences. (2021). The future of nursing 2020-2030.

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The Nurse Antigone – Voices from the Chorus

Donna M. Fahey

MSN, MFA, RN, CNL, HNB-BC, CHPN

On March 17, 2022, over ZOOM, a story began called The Nurse Antigone,

produced by Theatre of War Productions. Antigone stands in front of a mythic

palace moments after a civil war has ended. Antigone struggles with the

consequences of war, demanding justice for the dead before a false sense of

normalcy envelops the land. Her world desperately wants peace, but for Antigone,

it would mean forgetting and ignoring the cost. Antigone wants to bury her

brother, now an enemy of the winning side, but will face her own death if she

does. The play unfolds before a chorus of nurses, recruited from the frontlines of

the pandemic, who quickly resonate with Antigone's spirit. Like her, these nurses

have endured years of 'war’ facing challenges in providing care equitably for their

patients.

After the riveting performance, the spectators are invited to a post-performance

discussion, answering the question, "What resonated with you?" The audience of

over 1000 join the play's chorus to unravel the shared meaning. They are moved

by Antigone's larger-than-life emotions as she gives voice to parallel experiences.

"I am not sure I can take any more bad news," resonates with a weary nursing

profession bracing against the pandemic wave after wave. There is also betrayal.

Antigone has lost faith in her King. Nurses feel betrayed by family and their

community who reacted against mask mandates and vaccine requirements. They

also share Antigone's anguish as she wrestles between doing what is right and

doing what she is told to do, recalling impossible decisions about allocating limited

resources. Antigone realizes that she cannot win. Either choice will divide her

family and society. When Antigone is buried alive for her actions, she symbolizes

a nurse’s experience of being buried by work or drowning underneath conflicting

demands.

The play is faithful to Sophocles' intent to mimic the world's people, places,

and conditions. Antigone articulates and validates what is difficult for her audience

to express. This helps the audience find their voice. "There is healing and hope

– not in the plays, which are bloody and despairing, but in the people who come

together to bear witness" (Doerries, 2016, p 55). Nurses everywhere need to bear

witness and tell their own story. Locally, sharing will provide emotional release

and strengthen belonging. Globally, these stories can foster awareness and

change. The pandemic is tragic but does not need to be a tragedy. Be the voice of

the chorus. Dare to talk about it, have empathy and depth of feeling. Together we

can move through and choose a better ending.

Need inspiration? Register with Theater of War Productions to attend the

next live performance of The Nurse Antigone. View a recording of Clinicians

in Crisis, a candid discussion on how Hollywood can help enhance the public's

understanding of what the healthcare workforce has experienced throughout

this pandemic (Hollywood Health and Society, 2022). Watch a series of

podcasts called Breaking Point: Voices from the Front Lines of the Pandemic,

“an unfiltered snapshot of this unprecedented moment in time” (Center for the

Advancement of Palliative Care, n.d., para 1) that paints a picture of how we can

chart a way forward (CAPC, n.d.).

References

Center for Advancing Palliative Care (CAPC). Breaking Point – Voices from the front line

of the pandemic [Podcasts]. https://www.capc.org/podcasts/breaking-point/

Doerries, B. (2016). Healing the invisible wounds of war with Greek tragedy. History’s

Ghosts, 33(3) 54-64. Doi: 10.1215/07402775-371296p

Hollywood Health and Society, USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center (February 9, 2022).

Clinicians in Crisis: Healthcare Workers Are Suffering; TV Stories Can Help. https://

hollywoodhealthandsociety.org/events/clinicians-crisis-healthcare-workers-aresuffering-tv-stories-can-help

Theatre of War Productions (n.d.) The Nurse Antigone. https://theaterofwar.com/projects

Nurse Leaders Need Mentors

Too

Danielle Fitzgerald, BSN, RN, ONC

Nursing is a profession with an abundance of specialties, career routes, and

opportunities, so how does a nurse navigate this vast field? There is always

discussion around advancements and the propulsion of the profession, but the

importance of uplifting peers in professional development and growth is also

noteworthy. Mentors are often spoken about in terms of guiding individuals with

clinical aspirations, but how about those individuals who want to pursue nursing

administration or nursing leadership? Mentoring upcoming nurse leaders is

critical to the future of nursing not only because many nurses in management

are expected to retire in the next few years, but also because a nurse manager’s

leadership style directly affects nurse satisfaction and a nurse’s outlook on the

profession (Hughes, 2018).

Aspiring and current nurse leaders who want to further climb the leadership

ladder need mentors in order to develop the skillset required to lead successful

teams. A mentor is someone knowledgeable, experienced in a given role, and

who is able to usher a mentee towards achieving their professional goals (Saletnik,

2018). Mentorship introduces the mentee to new ideas and opportunities

through their experienced counterpart. This trusted relationship may be official

and formally agreed upon or unofficial as in an experienced colleague offering

consistent advice. Regardless, fostering a relationship with a mentor prior to

or during a transition into a variety of leadership roles such as nurse manager,

director, and even chief nursing officer can offer insight on what to expect and

how to prepare for developing the qualities of a good leader. Inexperienced nurse

leaders may look to their mentors for advice on handling difficult conversations,

solving issues, and leading their teams effectively. Ultimately, mentorship promotes

camaraderie by empowering nurses within the community.

The development of competent transformational nurse leaders is a critical

aspect for the advancement of the nursing profession and leads to positive

outcomes in both staff retention by fostering a healthy work environment and in

patient safety through high-quality care (Heller et al., 2004). Ideally, mentoring

upcoming leaders about how to become transformational leaders instead of

transactional or autocratic ones can have lasting benefits for the entire team in

terms of “improv[ing] nursing and organizational outcomes” (Clavelle & Prado-

Inzerillo, 2018). Finding a trusted mentor not only involves becoming an active

participant in shared governance at your current organization, making the effort

to develop mentor or mentee relationships with nurse leaders at your facility, but

it may also entail networking and joining professional organizations like NJSNA.

The success of the profession is closely linked to the success of our colleagues and

the support provided to each other’s endeavors. When the time comes to pass the

torch, mentorship helps ensure that the future of nursing falls into the hands of

well-prepared and well-educated nurses.

References

Clavelle, J. T., & Prado-Inzerillo, M. (2018, November 30). Inspire other through

transformational leadership. American Nurse. https://www.myamericannurse.com/

inspire-transformational-leadership/

Heller, B,, Drenkard, K., Esposito-Herr, M., Romano, C., Tom, S., & Valentine, N. (2004).

Educating Nurses for Leadership Roles. The Journal of Continuing Education in

Nursing, 35(5), 203-210.

Hughes, V. (2018). What are the Barriers to Effective Nurse Leadership? A Review. Athens

Journal of Health, 5(1), 7-20. https://doi.org/10.30958/ajh.5-1-1

Saletnik, L. (2018). The Importance of Mentoring. [Editorial]. AORN Journal, 108(4), 354-

356. https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.12386


Institute for Nursing 2022 Scholarship Awardees

Left to right Brenna Ruoff, Viktoriia Dmytruk, Marshal Oyama, Gianna

Glover, Sandy Foley, Flora Ajayi, Elouse Desir, Taylor Rossi, Keisha Cogdell

Sandy Foley, DNP, RN Chair, Institute for Nursing

This year the Institute for Nursing (IFN), the foundation of the New Jersey State

Nurses Association (NJSNA), awarded $15,000 in scholarships to 14 New Jersey

nurses and nursing students. The 2022 educational scholarships were presented

to the awardees at the NJSNA Annual Meeting on May 7, 2022. Through its

fundraising efforts one of the IFN’s goals comes to fruition awarding educational

scholarships. The IFN’s ability to award scholarships to the nurses across NJ is

ultimately a powerful catalyst to improve the health and wellness of the NJ

consumers as well as to enrich the recipient’s body of knowledge.

Since 1989, the IFN has awarded more than a half of a million dollars in

scholarships to nursing students who are aspiring to become a Registered

Nurse (RN) or RNs who desire to continue their education in an undergraduate

or graduate degree program. The IFN welcomes donations for our scholarship

program IFN Donation.

The 2023 scholarship applications will be accepted in early 2023, so consider

encouraging a nursing student to apply for a scholarship or if you are continuing

your education consider applying for a scholarship.

Congratulations to all awardees!

Brenna Ruoff will be attending The University of Hartford in the fall pursuing

her Bachelor of Science Nursing degree, She received the Valerie E. Yahn

Endowment Scholarship.

Elouse E. Desir is pursuing her BSN degree from Saint Elizabeth University.

She received a Sylvia C. Edge Endowment Scholarship.

Gianna M. Glover will be graduating from the College of New Jersey (TCNJ)

with her BSN degree. She has received a Sylvia C. Edge Endowment Scholarship.

Victoriia Dmytruk currently attends Montclair State University where she

will be graduating with her BSN degree was presented with the Arthur L. Davis

Publishing Agency Scholarship.

Gabriella Giannetta is a student at Stockton University pursing her BSN

degree was presented with the IFN General Scholarship.

Flora Ajyi is a NJSNA Region 3 member who is currently pursuing her

Doctoral Degree at the University of Cincinnati. She had received the Lucille Joel

Scholarship.

Sanjana Patal is completing her BSN degree at Seton Hall university College

of Nursing who has received the Mary Germain Scholarship.

Keisha Cogdell is a NJSNA Region 4 member and has been recently elected

VP of Membership for the region. She is currently enrolled in the Post-Doctoral

System Executive Leadership Fellow Program at Frances Payne Bolton School

of Nursing and was awarded the Meridian Health Care Systems Jean Marshal

Scholar Award.

Maria Flores is a NJSNA Region 2 member, currently pursuing a Doctor of

Nursing Practice degree with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration at Rutgers

University. She is the recipient of the NJSNA Region 2 Memorial scholarship.

Kelly LoPresti is a NJSNA Region 2 member. She is currently enrolled in the

Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program at William Paterson University.

Kelly has been awarded the NJSNA Region 2 Memorial scholarship.

Sierra Smith is a first year BSN student at Bloomfield College. She is a

member of the Nursing Students Organization and the National Society of

Leadership and Success. Sierra has received the Newark City Hospital School of

Nursing Scholarship.

Sheri Boone is a Region 5 NJSNA member and is currently enrolled in an

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at Rowan University.

Sheri is the recipient of the Barbara Chamberlain Scholarship.

Marshal Oyama is a second year BSN student at Caldwell University. Marshal

is the recipient of the Barbara Chamberlain Scholarship

Taylor Rossi is currently enrolled in an Adult Geriatric Nurse practitioner

program at The College of New Jersey. Taylor has received the Dr. Dely Po Go

Scholarship. She is a Region 6 NJSNA member, serving as VP to Congress on

Policy and Practice for the region.

Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, grade point average, and

leadership potential. The Institute awards scholarships ranging $500-$1000

annually. Scholarships may be applied toward tuition, books and academic fees

only.

GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP: Open to all high school graduates or adult

students who meet the above eligibility requirements.

LUCILLE JOEL: Open to RN’s pursuing a master’s degree in nursing having

an interest in health policy or psychiatric/mental health nursing. Applicants

must document this interest in Section VI of the application and meet the above

eligibility requirements.

ARTHUR L. DAVIS PUBLISHING AGENCY, INC.: Open to all high school

graduates or adult students who are enrolled in or applying to an associate degree,

baccalaureate, or diploma nursing program in New Jersey and to all RNs pursuing

a higher degree in nursing and who meet the above eligibility requirements.

THE NEWARK CITY HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING ALUMNI

ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP: Open to New Jersey residents enrolled as a

sophomore or above in a Registered Nurse program or upper division degree in

nursing and who meet the eligibility requirements above.

MARY GERMAIN: Open to students who currently reside in Monmouth or

Middlesex counties who are pursuing a generic or upper division baccalaureate

degree in nursing and meet the above Eligibility requirements.

MERIDIAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS JEAN MARSHALL SCHOLAR

AWARD: Open to RN’s pursuing a master’s degree or higher in nursing who meet

the above eligibility requirements.

REGION 2 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Open to any registered nurse in

Region 2 that have been a member for a year pursuing a RN to BSN or a higher

degree in nursing and who meet the above eligibility requirements. (Region 2 is

Bergen and Hudson Counties)

THE DR. BENJAMIN EVANS GRANT: A $500 Grant for a Registered Nurse

enrolled in a DNP Program to support their DNP Project.

DR. BARBARA CHAMBERLAIN SCHOLARSHIP: Open to RN’s pursuing a

BSN degree or higher in nursing who meet the above eligibility requirements.

DR. DELY PO GO SCHOLARSHIP: Any Registered Nurse who is pursuing a

BSN degree or higher in nursing who meeting the above eligibility requirements.

SYLVIA C. EDGE ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIP: Open to all student

nurses of African descent with documented financial need. All applicants must

be New Jersey residents currently enrolled in diploma, associate, or baccalaureate

nursing programs located in New Jersey.

THE VALERIE E. YAHN ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIP is available to High

school students from Region 5 (Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester &

Salem counties).

INSTITUTE FOR NURSING SCHOLARSHIP/GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

2022 INSTITUTE FOR NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS

ELIGIBILITY:

All applicants must be New Jersey residents and must be enrolled (not

waiting to hear) in a diploma, associate, baccalaureate, or masters nursing

program located in the State of New Jersey or in a nursing doctoral program

or a related field, preferably located in the State of New Jersey. RN’s must

be members of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (please provide your

member number).


Department of Children and

Families

Update from the

NJSNA LPN Forum

By Wendy Jo Davis, LPN, CMCN,

NJSNA LPN Forum Chairperson

Happy Summer from the FLPN! For two years the

FLPN has continued to grow new members each month.

At the time of this writing, we have 514 FLPN Facebook

members and 152 email subscribers! Keep an eye out

for upcoming events and email reminders, if you haven’t

email subscribed for updates please use the links below!

See you in September…

Ongoing FLPN Update & Building Plans:

Regional Contributors/Committees - We continue to establish multiple

committees for planning upcoming projects like the membership drive, future

in-person meetings, regional meetings, etc. (The FLPN will utilize the NJSNA

Regions map). More regional contributors are always welcome and needed- just

mark your name down on the FLPN Regions Map on Facebook “Announcements”

or email the FLPN directly to be added to the list.

Membership Drive - NJ has 28,800+ LPNs! We need to reach as many LPNs

as possible to build the FLPN so that all LPN voices may be heard! We continue

to work on our ongoing membership drive goal. A sharable flyer has been made

and emailed to all email subscribers so that you can share it with your colleagues.

The flyer is also posted in the Forum under “Announcements.”

Rick Hager, Community Outreach Coordinator

Richard.Hager@dcf.nj.gov

It’s summer. Kids are off from school. It's a fun time of the year, typically. But

for some youth, summer vacation can cause increased anxiety or stress because it

disrupts their normal routines and separates them from their peers. And after the

last two years, any level of change, or disruption, can just feel overwhelming. It’s

especially important that we all keep a watchful eye on any unusual and lasting

behaviors such as those listed in the info-graphic. We ask that our system partners,

in nursing, the health care sector, as well as the community-at-large, remain

vigilant and share this information with families who may benefit. Help is available.

Additional mental health service information can be found on the Department

of Children and Families, Children’s System of Care website at this link: DCF |

Children's System of Care (nj.gov) https://www.nj.gov/dcf/about/divisions/dcsc/

Our Next Scheduled Calls:

**Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 7pm – 8pm**

https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Frutgers.zoom.us%2Fj%2F92

487358053%3Fpwd%3DT1p6VnJ2YkZQbXRlYm53dWtwdE5rQT09&sa=D&ust

=1644493137359000&usg=AOvVaw2PcyRynGuk73_h_kbwl_hM

Meeting ID: 924 8735 8053

Password: 159919

Join By Phone

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

**Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 7-8pm**

https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Frutgers.zoom.us%2Fj%2F98

606520659%3Fpwd%3DeTV2VEo3NHRhWlk3VTRGY0JjUVJzdz09&sa=D&ust

=1644493303126000&usg=AOvVaw3SpIvzye-CNPO2oWhh4ok1

Meeting ID: 986 0652 0659

Password: 838111

Join By Phone

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Use the links below to share the FLPN with your LPN/LPN Student

colleagues!

Please join the "New Jersey State Nurses LPN Forum" Facebook

group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/njLPNurses/

Please SUBSCRIBE for FLPN News/Updates on our current email

platform at: https://njsna-lpn-forum.mailchimpsites.com

Questions/Comments? Email the FLPN directly at: lpnforum@njsna.org


Position Statement on Human Trafficking

The NJSNA Congress on Policy and Practice

(COPP) Resolutions Committee completed

Resolutions Denouncing Human Trafficking in May

2020. This in turn led COPP to develop a position

statement on this issue. Based on the research for the

resolution it was decided that continuing education

about Human Trafficking is paramount. The goal

of education for NJ nurses is to increase awareness

and empower nurses to address the victims’ overall

needs. The Human Trafficking position statement

was presented to the NJSNA Board of Directors and

approved in March 2022. This is now available on the

NJSNA website.

Statement

The New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA)

stands united as a profession to identify, advocate

for, and respond to the needs of patients who are

the victims of human trafficking as described in the

Resolution Denouncing Human Trafficking (NJSNA,

2020).

In 2017, New Jersey implemented the Human

Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment

Act requiring both clinical and non-clinical healthcare

workers to complete a one-time human trafficking

educational offering (NJ Admin. Code tit. 8 § 43E-

14.1, 2017). Although NJSNA applauds this 2017

legislation, NJSNA recommends and supports biennial

human trafficking education for all registered nurses

(RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN), and advanced

practice nurses (APN) with the goal of increasing

awareness of human trafficking, identification of

victims, and implementing evidenced-based practices

to mitigate human trafficking.

Explanation of issues

New Jersey (NJ) is considered particularly

vulnerable to the proliferation of human trafficking

due to its dense and diverse population (U.S. Census

Bureau, 2021). NJ is a corridor state, one of the

country’s prime destinations related to its major points

of entry with easy accessibility to the tristate region

by car, truck, train, boat, and plane (New Jersey

Human Trafficking Task Force, 2020). Victims of

human trafficking are perceived to be young, female,

and foreign-born. Both victims and traffickers can

be from any community, race, gender, age, religion,

or nationality (Long & Dowdell, 2018). Furthermore,

per National Human Trafficking Resource Center

(NHTRC) 2015 annual report, 34.7% of all victims

of sex trafficking are U.S. citizens. According to the

NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT,

2019), 25 million people are trafficked worldwide,

11,500 cases were reported to the U.S. National

Hotline with 247 identified cases in New Jersey

in 2019. Based on 2020 statistics, 14,500-17,500

estimated number of people are trafficked into the

United States every year, of whom 50% are identified

to be children (New Jersey Human Trafficking Task

Force, 2020). Human trafficking remains a global

threat and robs people of their rights and dignity

(U.S. Department of Justice, 2020), yet continues to

be greatly underreported (U. S. Department of State,

2022).

Individuals who have a history of being abused,

living in poverty, being neglected, victims of violence

and/or trauma are more vulnerable to being trafficked

(National Human Trafficking Hotline, 2020). Although

there is limited research on exploitation of boys and

men compared to girls and women, there are studies

reporting on gender biases where boys and men

are looked upon as suspicious criminals rather than

victims of human trafficking and forced criminality

(Beasley, 2018; Chaffin et al., 2020). The Internet,

including social media and online platforms for

gaming and communication, creates an opportunity

for traffickers to connect with children and youth,

thus making them extremely vulnerable (O’Brien & Li,

2019).

Human trafficking victims often remain unidentified

because when they present in healthcare settings,

they are controlled and accompanied by the

perpetrators, making it difficult for them to speak up

for themselves. Victims of human trafficking can be

identified through recognition of the red flags which

are Reluctant to speak, Exhausted, Dominated or

controlled, Fearful, Long work hours, Alienation

from family and friends, Gifts from older partner,

and Signs of abuse (NJCAHT, 2019). Once patients

are identified, the nurse or healthcare provider can

intervene through partnering with the forensic nurses,

law enforcement officials, social workers, and mental

health professionals. A coordinated and collaborative

approach will provide holistic services that promotes

safety, health, and healing for trafficking victims (NJ

Department of Law and Public Safety, (2021)

Explanation/Definition of Terms

Human Trafficking: Human trafficking is a

worldwide human rights violation that involves the

use of force, fraud, deception, harboring, transferring

and/or coercion to exploit other human beings to

participate in some type of labor including slavery,

sexual activity or harvesting of organs (Department

of Homeland Security, 2020; U.S. Department of

Justice 2020).

Corridor state: Densely populated state that

contains a major thoroughfare that is crucial in

supporting the region’s people and economy. The NJ

Turnpike, in the middle of other portions of I-95, is

the corridor that links the northeast megalopolis of

Baltimore/Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York

and Boston.

Rationale

Healthcare provider education on human

trafficking has proven to have significant impact in

identification of trafficked individuals, improvement

in community referrals, and empowering the nursing

workforce (Parchment & Stinson, 2020). Although,

NJ Admin. Code (tit. 8 § 43E-14.1, 2017) currently

requires all new health care workers to complete a

one-time human trafficking educational offering within

six months of the first day of employment at the

facility, biennial education for nurses would increase

awareness of human trafficking. Human trafficking

education would empower and prepare nurses to

initiate multidisciplinary approach of care to address

human trafficking victims’ physical and psychological

needs, including basic needs like shelter, housing,

medical, legal, and financial needs.

References

Beasley, E. (2018). Overlooking Men and Boys in Forced

Criminality at the Border: A Content Analysis

of Human Trafficking Training and Awareness

Materials. https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/1077/.

Chaffin, S., Chambers, R., Gray, E. (2020). Boys Are

Trafficked Too? In: Titchen, K., Miller, E. (eds) Medical

Perspectives on Human Trafficking in Adolescents.

Springer International Publishing. https://doi.

org/10.1007/978-3-030-43367-3_15

Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (2020, March).

What is human trafficking? Retrieved March 9, 2020,

from https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/whathuman-trafficking

Long, E., & Dowdell, E. B. (2018). Nurses' perceptions of

victims of human trafficking in an urban emergency

department: A qualitative study. Journal of

Emergency Nursing, 44(4), 375-383. https://doi.

org/10.1016/j.jen.2017.11.004

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New Jersey Admin. Code tit. 8 § 43E – 14.1 (2017). http://

www.njha.com/media/478349/njac-8-43e-14-andnjac-8-43e-3-4.pdf

New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking

(NJCAHT). (2019). Creating a safer state together.

New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

https://www.safernj.org/uploads/resource/NJCAHT-

Prevention-Education-Brochure.pdf

New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. (2021,

July 1). Human trafficking. New Jersey Office of

Attorney General. https://www.njoag.gov/programs/

human-trafficking/

National Human Trafficking Hotline. (2020, April 7). The

victims needs to be on this line victims. https://

humantraffickinghotline.org/what-human-trafficking/

human-trafficking/victims

National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC).

(2015). National Human Trafficking Resource Center

(NHTRC) Annual Report 2015. National Human

Trafficking Hotline. https://humantraffickinghotline.

org/resources/2015-nhtrc-annual-report,

New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA). (2020).

Resolution Denouncing Human Trafficking. https://

njsna.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/resolutiondenouncing-human-trafficking-may-19.2020-njsnacopp-1.pdf

New Jersey Human Trafficking Task Force. (2020). Human

Trafficking Brochure. The Official Web Site for The

State of New Jersey. https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/

humantrafficking/downloads/NJ-Human-Trafficking-

Brochure.pdf

O’Brien, J. E., & Li, W. (2019). The role of the internet in

the grooming, exploitation, and exit of United States

domestic minor sex trafficking victims. Journal of

Children and Media, 14(2), 187-203. https://doi.org/

10.1080/17482798.2019.1688668

Parchment, J., & Stinson, A. (2020). Clinical Nurses

Leading Through the Complexity of Human

Trafficking. Nurse Admin Q, 44(3), 235-243.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2021, August 12). Racial and

ethnic diversity in the United States: 2010 census

and 2020 census. https://www.census.gov/library/

visualizations/interactive/racial-and-ethnic-diversity-inthe-united-states-2010-and-2020-census.html

U.S. Department of Justice. (2020, October 13). Human

trafficking? https://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking

U. S. Department of State. (2022, January 24). Critical

updates in the fight against human trafficking –

Forum. United States Department of State. https://

www.state.gov/critical-updates-in-the-fight-againsthuman-trafficking-forum/

Formulated: March 2022, Congress on Policy

and Practice, Resolutions Subcommittee: Francesca

Nordin, MSN, RN-C, Umamaheswari Venugopal

MSN, RN, CCRN-K, Kathleen Vnenchak MSN, RN,

CNML, and Susan H. Weaver, PhD, RN, CRNI, NEA-

BC

Approved: March 22, 2022 by NJSNA Board of

Directors

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CGFNS Presents

Program with UN

Commission on

Status of Women

CGFNS presented the program, "Achieving Gender

Equality and Economic Empowerment through Nurse

Migration" virtually on March 15, 2022. The program

was offered by CGFNS during the UN 66th session

on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW),

as part of the NGO CSW Forum.

Two of the four member nurse panel immigrated to

New Jersey:

NJSNA member, Lydia Albuquerque, RN, DNP,

ACNP-BC, CCRN, FNAP, immigrated to NJ from

India in 2004. She retired from the military in India.

Dr. Albuquerque, an APN focuses her practice on

heart failure; she is a William Paterson University,

Assistant Professor.

NJSNA member, Emilia Iwu, RN, PhD, APNC,

FWACN, immigrated to NJ from Nigeria. Dr. Iwu is

an APN, and her practice has been focused on Global

Health Issues: she is a Rutgers University School of

Nursing Assistant Professor.

SRS Martha E.

Rogers Scholars

Fund Announces

Barrett Grant

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E. Rogers Scholars Fund has announced a new

grant awarded in honor of the late Elizabeth Ann

Manhart Barrett, PhD, RN-BC, LMHC, FAAN, an

internationally recognized nurse for her leadership in

practice, education, and research in the advancement

of nursing science. The grant is designed to support

the ongoing testing, application, evaluation of impact,

and policy implications of Barrett's Power as Knowing

Participation in Change Theory. An award of up

to $2,000 will be provided for a maximum of two

recipients. The deadline for applications is September

1, 2022. For Information contact: Dr. Violet Malinski,

Grant Review Chair at: vmalinski@optimum.net.

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Attendance & Motions 3/22/2022

NJSNA Board of Directors Meeting

Mary Ellen Levine – President

Sandra Foley – President-Elect

Amita Avadhani – Vice President

Daniel Misa – Treasurer

Linda Gural – Secretary

Margaret Daingerfield – Director

Tara Heagele – Director

Stephanie Herr – COPP Chair

JoAnne Penn – Director

Rosemary Seghatoleslami – Parliamentarian

Karen Kinsley – Region 1 Representative

Lois Greene – Region 3 President

Maureen Clark-Gallagher – Region 4 President

Barbara McCormick – Region 5 President

Renee White – Region 6 President

Judith Schmidt – Chief Executive Officer

Jennifer Chanti – Executive Assistant

Debra Harwell – Deputy Director

Terri Ivory – RAMP Director

Lisa Golini – Clinical Operations Director

Lynne Stauffer – Bookkeeper

Beth Knox – Bylaws Committee Chair

Wendy Jo Davis – LPN Forum Chair

Eleanor Dietrich-Withington – Guest

Trisha Apanel – Guest

Melanie Bonilla – Guest

Yvelande Etienne – Guest

Olatokunboh Odumbo – Guest

Freda Quaye – Guest

Kendra Wiggan – Guest

Brittany Arrow – Guest

Victoria Hanrahan – Guest

Motion #1 – Accept minutes from 1/25/2022 -

Minutes accepted

Motion #2 – Accept the policies presented from

the Policy and Procedures Task Force - Motion passed

Motion #3 – The Policy and Procedures Task

Force recommends policies be retired – Motion Passed

Motion #4 –Accept Human Trafficking Position

Statement from the Congress on Policy and Practice

- Motion passed

Motion #5 – Motion to support the following bills

in the legislature

Removal of APN/Physician Collaborating

Agreement (A2286{new version}/S1522);

Surgical Smoke (A256/S732); Nurse Title

Protection (A2195); BSN in 10 (A2194/S1050);

Domestic Violence CE requirement for nurse license

renewal (A2182) - Motion passed

Motion #6 – Have a one-day annual meeting in

May 2023 - Motion passed

Motion #7 – CEO to review contract to pursue an

affiliation with schools of nursing who wish to provide

tuition discount for NJSNA members - Motion passed

Motion #8 –Develop a six-month conditional

contract with CMA - Motion passed

Motion #9 – Meeting adjourned at 3:06pm


NJSNA Election Policy

Policy


(NJSNA) is responsible to the members to conduct an

election that is consistent for all units of NJSNA. All

elections will be fair and unbiased consistent with the

procedures in this policy.

Scope

This policy applies to members and staff of the

New Jersey State Association during an official

election period. The policy encompasses voters,

challenges, candidates, campaign practices, and

ballots both electronic and manual.

Definitions

Eligible Voters are individuals who are members

of NJSNA for at least a full 2 months dated from

the 1st of the month prior to the month the vote is

held, and they are up to date on their dues. (For

example, the election is May 1st – the individual

must be a member of NJSNA continuously since

March 1st of the same year. IF the election is

May 15th the individual must be a member of

NJSNA continuously since March 1st of the same

year). Eligible voters must continue to meet all the

requirements of membership including being up

to date on their dues and current registered nurse

licensure on the day that they vote.

Responsible

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the

President of NJSNA are responsible for elections of

NJSNA.

Policy Approval Authority

NJSNA Board of Directors (BOD).

Procedure

1. Candidate for Office

a. Any member of NJSNA eligible to vote may

submit names of a candidate for office if the

person is qualified and willing to serve.

b. The Committee on Nominations will consider

the qualifications of members who would

continue in office, as well as qualifications

of members whose terms are expiring. This

will be done to assess the areas needing

representation.

c. Only nominees whose biographical forms are

received by the date set by the Committee on

Nominations will be considered.

d. Nominees who plan to self-announce at the

Annual Meeting must submit a biographical

form to the NJSNA secretary by 5:00pm on

the day of the Annual Meeting final day to be

eligible.

e. The Committee on Nominations shall prepare

a slate consisting of at least two nominees

for each office to be filled. When possible,

the Committee on Nominations will provide

representation from all regions, reflect

various areas, levels of practice and types of

educational programs. An individual will not be

selected for more than two offices.

f. The Committee on Nominations shall publish

the slate in the New Jersey Nurse or on the

web site before the election period.

g. The biography of each nominee shall be

included with the ballot.

h. If the name of a member of the Committee

on Nominations is submitted as a suggested

candidate for the ballot of this Association

with the permission of that member, said

member shall resign from the Committee on

Nominations.

i. The candidates must be members in good

standing when they are approved for the slate

or when they are nominated by themselves

or others for office. (This includes write-in

candidates.)

j. The request for nominations must include the

offices to be filled, the terms of office, how

to nominate and eligibility requirements for

nominees.

• For an ANA position, e.g., delegate to the

ANA Membership Assembly, the candidate

must be a dual member.

Any changes to nomination requirements must

be published in the New Jersey Nurse and

posted on-line at www.njsna.org prior to the

first meeting of the Committee on Nominations.

k. If a candidate drops membership at any time

from the time the slate is fixed through their

time in office, they have 5 business days to

correct/restore their membership once notified

of the lapse by NJSNA. If not, they will not

be eligible for the office prior to the election

and their name will be removed from the

ballot. Once on the ballot they will remain,

however, votes for the candidate will not be

counted. If an elected candidate drops his/her

membership after the election, the position will

be considered a vacancy to be filled according

to NJSNA bylaws.

l. Nominees will be placed on the ballot by lot for

each position.

2. Campaign Practices

a. No monies received by NJSNA and/or any

NJSNA Region from dues, assessments or

similar levies or anything of value, and no

monies or services of a candidate’s employer

shall be contributed or applied to promote a

candidate for NJSNA office. An individual may

use personal money or donations (excluding

NJSNA or regional money and employer raised

funds or anything of value) for notices and

factual statement of issues not involving the

candidates.

b. All candidates shall be treated fairly, openly,

and equitably. Information made available

by the Election Review Committee to one

candidate must be made available to all

candidates.

c. Candidates shall refrain from negative

campaigning and personal attacks on other

candidates or their supporters.

6” Ads

OPEN

d. Candidates shall not use the NJSNA website

and/or its social media sites; including but not

limited to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for

campaigning. An e-blast may be sent by the

candidates to NJSNA members for a fee set

by the NJSNA CEO and payable to NJSNA

and designated to the operations account.

Election postings may be monitored by the

Committee on Nominations. The Committee

reserves the right to remove any postings on

the NJSNA website and/or social media sites.

The Association shall keep the Committee

on Nominations informed of such postings,

as appropriate. An individual may use his/her

personal social media profiles for campaigning.

e. NJSNA staff is not to package or distribute

campaign literature. NJSNA staff will not wear

promotional materials for any candidates.

f. Campaign promotional materials, including

shopping or tote bags, may be distributed by

candidates and their supporters.

g. Any internal NJSNA policies governing

campaign practices and election procedures

are to be published in advance of the annual

meeting in the New Jersey Nurse and online.

h. Candidates shall ensure that any campaign

material issued by the candidate, or any

supporter contains the statement “The content

of this campaign material has been reviewed

and approved by Candidate’s Name.”

i. Candidates shall not use the NJSNA logo and/

or mission statement on campaign materials.

Candidates are free to use the convention logo

in campaign material; such use does not imply

endorsement by NJSNA.

j. Candidates may make a statement about their

candidacy during candidates’ events during

the annual meeting. Making such statements

during NJSNA sponsored meetings, hearings or

educational programming is not permissible.

k. NJSNA is not responsible for designing or

disseminating campaign marketing information

for individual candidates or slates of candidates.

l. Once candidates have been certified by the

Committee on Nominations, as requested, the

Association will:

• Post Candidate Position Statements and

photos if available on the NJSNA website

and in the New Jersey Nurse.

• At the annual meeting, candidates

or persons promoting the interest of

candidates, will not distribute literature or

other campaign material in the meeting

rooms or in manner which block access

to the meeting rooms, or place campaign

materials on counters or writing tables in the

registration area.

• Each candidate shall be provided with

a copy of this Policy and a copy will be

published in the New Jersey Nurse and

online at www.njsna.org

3. Election Challenges

a. Timing

An election may be challenged in writing to the

chairperson of the Committee on Nominations.

All challenges must be filed from the date of

nominations are posted until 14 calendar days

following the closing of the vote. Failure to file

within these timeframes constitutes a waiver of

the right to challenge.

b. Grounds for Challenging Election

The grounds for challenging an election may be

based on:

1. Ineligible voters.

2. Procedures required for conducting the

election were not followed.

3. Procedures or actions directly related to

the election and applied during the election

were unauthorized or contrary to applicable

law.

4. The NJSNA bylaws and policies pertaining

to the election were not followed; and

5. The action had a material impact on the

outcome of the election.

A challenge may be filed in writing by any NJSNA

member eligible to vote. The challenge shall

specify the nature of the complaint, including any

violation of NJSNA bylaws, procedures, or the

law, and explain the basis for why the member

believes the outcome of the election was affected

by the complaint of conduct.


c. Processing for addressing the election challenge.

All written challenges submitted by members eligible to vote are investigated

by the 5-member Election Review Committee appointed by the President.

In the event the President is the subject of an election challenge, the

Election Review Committee shall be appointed by the President Elect.

The Election Review Committee shall be comprised of three members of

the NJSNA Board of Directors and two region presidents. The NJSNA

President shall designate the chair. The committee may hold a hearing if

they deem it necessary. The Election Review Committee will present

their decision and recommendations within 30 days after the filing of the

challenge to the NJSNA BOD. Decisions made by the Election Review

Committee members may be appealed to the full NJSNA BOD by filing

written notice of such appeal within 10 days after the decision is issued.

Pending the decision of the NJSNA BOD, the decision of the Election

Review Committee will be in effect. The decision of the NJSNA BOD final.

• If the election is challenged while in progress, it will continue unless a

decision is reached by the NJSNA BOD based on the Election Review

Committee recommendations to stop the election and declare it void.

• If challenged after it is completed, the officers chosen during the election

being challenged will take office and remain in office until a decision on

the challenge is reached OR until a new vote has been completed and

new officers are selected. Those who are defeated in the new election

will step down from office on the date the official announcement is

made, and the winner will take his/her position.

• Challenging the electronic elections: Absent proof of a technical or

mechanical irregularity, it shall be assumed the electronic vote count is

correct.

If the NJSNA BOD finds that there are sufficient grounds to hold a new

election it will set a date for the election and post in the next edition of the

New Jersey Nurse and NJSNA website.

d. Grounds for challenging a voter.

A member who desires to challenge the right of another member or

members to vote should do so by presenting the challenge to the President.

This should be done before the vote is cast. The burden of proof is on the

challenged voter to show that he or she is a qualified voter once a challenge

is cast. Only members in good standing (dues are up-to-date and hold a

current nursing license) will be allowed to vote.

The grounds for challenging a voter are:

• Not being a member in good standing.

• Using NJSNA, region funds or money, or anything of value donated by

his/her employer to finance their campaign.

• Acting on behalf of a competing organization to the detriment of

NJSNA.

• Violating the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses.

4. Miscellaneous Issues

a. Elections are conducted by an independent vendor and shall take place in a

secret electronic ballot. Members may request a paper ballot up to one week

prior to the first day of voting. All paper ballots must be postmarked no later

than the last day of voting. After that it will not be recognized as valid and

not counted. A member who requests a paper ballot will be locked out of

electronic voting.

b. The preliminary slate is to be posted in the New Jersey Nurse and on

www.njsna.org prior to the annual meeting or the vote, whichever is later.

Nominations of eligible candidates may be accepted during the annual

meeting.

c. Voting shall not be limited to nominees on the ballot . Voters may write in

on the official ballot, the names of other eligible candidates.

d. Votes shall be counted, and results reported to the membership via New

Jersey Nurse and NJSNA website.

e. The NJSNA Board of Directors will appoint a member who is not on the

ballot to oversee the election process. This person will report the results to

the members (NJSNA Bylaw Article X, Section 4).

f. In the event there are paper ballots the NJSNA staff will verify membership

of the voter. The NJSNA President will appoint two NJSNA members as

Tellers to count the paper ballots. The paper ballot tally will be added to the

electronic count.

g. Spoiled paper ballots are ballots which are not readable due to damage,

have more than one candidate marked for a single position or are not

returned in the appropriate envelope to verify the voter.

• An entire ballot will not be thrown out if only one position is in question.

• If a voter fails to vote for a candidate in a position, the Tellers must draw

a line through that office and sign so no one can fill in the vote at a later

date.

• Spoiled ballots must be totaled, and the Tellers must sign off on any

spoiled paper ballots.

h. When a voter requests both a paper ballot and votes electronically, the

paper ballot will supersede the electronic vote.

i. A plurality vote shall constitute an election. In case of a tie, the choice shall

be determined by lot and conducted by the Tellers.

j. Terms of office shall be from January 1 – December 31.

k. All ballots and other records shall be preserved for 5 years.

Rest, Relax, Laugh: Spending

Time with Yourself

Dr. Phyllis Lawrence, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Reprinted with permission from Tennessee Nurse February 2022 issue

Rest and Relax

How many times have you been told that you need to get plenty of sleep for

good physical health? Sleep is also instrumental in maintaining sound mental

and emotional health. Rest is not only the act of sleeping, but you can rest

your body, mind, and tap into your spirit simply by feeling renewed. Waking up

and feeling that you have run a marathon is a sign of significant activity during

your rest period. Either the mind continues to cycle, or you may be suffering

from a sleep disorder. In either case, you are not at rest.

To rest the mind, you must relax. Relaxation is defined as the state of being

free from tension and anxiety (Google dictionary, 2022). The Cambridge

Dictionary defines relaxation as a pleasant activity that makes you become

calm and less worried. This definition supports the concept of complementary

and alternative interventions and modalities. Relaxation can really be a state of

mind. One of the most effective holistic modalities that promotes relaxation is

meditation. Meditation is reflected in many forms, including guided imaginary,

mindfulness, Zen meditation, Mantra meditation, Transcendental meditation,

and Yoga meditation, just to name a few. Mindfulness has become popular

over the last few years. Being mindful is the basic human ability to be fully

present in the moment, aware of your surroundings, feelings, and emotions.

Try it, sit still in a quiet place. Place your hands in your lap. Now close

your eyes. What do you hear? What do you smell? Breathe slow and steady

while maintaining the rhythm. Continue this practice for approximately 10-

15 minutes. Notice the change in your stress level or anxiety. This simple

exercise can alleviate stress and anxiety, and if engaged in regularly, lead to an

optimistic outlook.

Laugh for a Healthier You

Have you noticed that when you laugh, you feel better? It is harder to cry

while you are laughing. Research has found that laughing triggers the release

of endorphins (nature’s feel-good chemicals). It has also been reported that

laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells. We have a

natural response to infection, which helps produce antibodies, improving our

resistance to disease and promoting our overall well-being. What makes you

laugh? Is it a funny commercial, your loved one(s), maybe your co-workers?

Laughter is the best medicine. In an article by Robinson, Smith, & Segal (July

2021), learn to create opportunities to laugh, watch a funny movie, TV show,

or YouTube video, check out a comedy club, read the funny pages, check out

the humor section in your bookstore, play with a pet, better yet host a game

night with friends.

I would like to share with you some of the things that make me laugh.

Watching my favorite comedy movies, even though I know the punch line,

dancing to my favorite 80’s jam on YouTube, and serving with a grateful heart.

When I see someone smile, I smile! During hard times, laughter has been a

saving grace for many. Whitman (2017) A new study reveals how laughter

affects the brain, which may be an explanation why giggles play an important

role in social bonding.

When you take time for yourself, you validate your worthiness and value.

Make it a point to celebrate your life. Buy that neat sweater, go to the movies

with your spouse, family, or friends. Do something that you enjoy, and that

makes you feel good. How about butter pecan ice cream? Take care of yourself

so that you can take care of others. The first step to self-care is accepting that

you are worthy of that care. The care you require may need to come from a

professional source, and that’s okay. There are services available through most

healthcare facilities and organizations. Sometimes you just might need to talk.

It may be a good time to phone a friend.

Take a moment and plan to rest, relax, and laugh. Try to include at least

one activity to cover each one of the components. Start with resting and

relaxing, then let the laughter begin. Remember, you are worthy, valuable, and

appreciated. Self-worth can only be measured by you. So make every moment

count, and be mindful of your value. I can sum it up in one word, priceless!!

References

L. Robinson, M. Smith & J. Segal (2021). Laughter is the Best Medicine. https://www.

helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm

Mindful: healthy mind, healthy life (2022). https://www.mindful.org/meditation/

mindfulness-getting-started/

Whiteman, H. (2017). Laughter releases ‘feel good hormones’ to promote social

bonding. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317756

Policy History

Approved By

Effective Date: August 16, 2011 NJSNA Board of Directors 8/16/11

Review or Revision Date(s) Approved By

Revised: October 2014 NJSNA Board of Directors 10/2014

Revised: March 2, 2016 NJSNA Board of Directors 3/2/16

Revised: July 19, 2021 NJSNA Board of Directors 7/19/21

Archived Date

Approved By

N/A

N/A

Join the FBI in New Jersey – we’re hiring

skilled nurses, and Special Agents.

Please apply at NewarkApplicants@fbi.gov.

A Nursing Job

and Life You

Didn’t Know

Existed!

New Jersey Nurse - June 2022

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