State
of New Jersey
Executive
Order #139
Acting
Governor John O. Bennett
WHEREAS, this State
is experiencing a critical shortage in its nursing workforce; and
WHEREAS, a shortage
of 14,000 registered nurses and 3,800 licensed practical nurses is forecasted
for 2006 and, by 2020, the shortage may be over 24,000 registered nurses;
and
WHEREAS, a number
of factors are contributing to the shortage, including the delivery of
more care in outpatient settings, shorter lengths of stay in acute and
long-term care settings, and the development of alternatives to nursing
home care; and
WHEREAS, these changes
have resulted in more employment options for nurses that make it difficult
for employers to recruit and retain qualified nursing personnel; and
WHEREAS, the current
shortage is expect to worsen as nursing school enrollments continue to
decline and a significant number of nurses retire over the next decade;
and
WHEREAS, the multifaceted
nature of these problems necessitates that all interested and affected
parties cooperate and collaborate in the development of solutions;
NOW, THEREFORE, I,
JOHN O. BENNETT, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes
of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
- The Advisory
Council to Promote the Profession of Nursing in New Jersey is hereby
established as set forth in this Order. The Advisory Council shall consist
of 16 members as follows:
- Five non-voting
ex officio members, including the chair and vice chair, appointed
by the Governor, which shall include the Commissioners of Health and
Senior Services, Human Services, Education and Labor and the Executive
Director of the New Jersey Board of Nursing in the Division of Consumer
Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or their designees;
- Seven public
members appointed by the Governor, which shall include one nurse upon
the recommendation of the New Jersey State Nurses Association, one
nurse upon the recommendation of the Licensed Practical Nurses Association
of New Jersey, Inc., two nurses upon the recommendation of the Organization
of Nursing Executives of New Jersey, one nurse educator teaching or
administering an A.D. program, one nurse and one nurse educator teaching
or administering a B.S.N. program, and one nurse educator teaching
or administering a diploma school program;
- Two members
appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall be of different
political parties and who shall be actively involved in nursing services;
and
- Two members
appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who shall be of
different political parties and who shall be actively involved in
nursing services.
- The Advisory Council
shall assist the Governor in proposing legislation and its recommendations
shall be based upon the following objectives:
- The recommendations
must include a determination of the current extent and long-term implications
of the growing shortage of nursing personnel in the State;
- The recommendations
must relate to the education, recruitment and retention of qualified
nursing personnel in New Jersey; and
- The recommendations
must evaluate mechanisms currently available in the State and other
states that are intended to enhance the education, recruitment and
retention of nurses in the workforce.
- The Advisory Council
shall present its recommendations on or before September 1, 2002.
- The Advisory Council
is authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency
of State government to provide such information, resources or other
assistance deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities under
this Order. Each department, office, division and agency of this State
is hereby required to cooperate with the Advisory Council and to furnish
it with such information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to
accomplish the purposes of the Order.
- The Advisory Council
shall hold at least three public hearings as it discharges its responsibilities
under this Order.
- This Order shall
take effect immediately.
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GIVEN, under
my hand and seal
this 9th day of January in the Year
of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Two
and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred
and Twenty-Sixth.
/s/ John O.
Bennett
Acting Governor
[seal]
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Attest:
/s/ James A. Harkness
Chief Counsel to
the Governor
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