Background: Established in 2003, The New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (the Center) is funded by a public/private funding partnership between the State and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In order to advance the health of New Jersey citizens, the Center serves as a future-oriented research and development organization to provide objective information about the nursing workforce in New Jersey to serve as a basis for policy development, as well as to serve as a catalyst for innovations in nursing education, practice, and research. The Center is located on the Newark Campus of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Who we are: Two full-time and two part-time committed workers staff the Center. The Executive Director, Geri L. Dickson, and Allison Creary, Administrative Assistant, are the two full time members. Linda Flynn is the part time Research Director. 

The Center has a 17-member board that is politically appointed according to the most recent legislation (P.L., 2009, c47). The board has a President, a Secretary, and three newly formed ad ho sub-committees. They are a Planning Committee, Financial Committee, and Public Relations Committee.

Funding sources: Since our inception as of January 1, 2003, the Center has received $545,000 in grants from the State, and $1,724,243 from the New Jersey funds of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and $11,000 from board members. In addition, a RWJF national program, the Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality and Research Initiative grant of $308,000 was received for the “Multifaceted Approach to Reducing Medication Errors,” with Linda Flynn as the PI and Geri L. Dickson as a Co-PI. Linda Flynn also received a grant of $406,000 for a comprehensive survey of New Jersey Nurses. In addition, in collaboration with Linda Aiken at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, the hospital data will contribute to a Multistate Project of Nursing Safety and Quality. 

Recently, P.L. 2009, Chapter 47 dedicated funding to the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing with an amount equal to 5% of the initial and renewal licensing fees charged by the New Jersey Board of Nursing for professional and practical nurses. At the current rate of fees that would amount to approximately $350,000 to $400,000 annually.  

What we are about: Inherent in our mission is a focus on: (a) data collection, analysis, and interpretation of relevant data regarding the supply and demand for NJ RNs and LPNs, (b) increasing the percentage of underrepresented minorities in the nurse workforce, (c) enhancing the image of the nurse as a health care expert, and (d) submitting biennial evidence-based policy reports to the Governor. Our first report was produced in 2006 and the 2008 report is in process.  

To meet our above goals we have:

• Developed, updated, and tested a NJ Nurse Demand Forecasting Model. A current update will be published shortly;
•  Collected and reported annually on pipeline supply data from all RN and PN schools in the State, including applications, enrollments, graduations, and demographics of students, plus relevant data regarding the faculty pool such as budgeted FTE positions, numbers of full time and part time/adjunct faculty, vacant positions, demographics, and education;
•  Released reports on the licensed supply of RNs and LPNs in 2003 and in 2007; the 2007 report contains comprehensive data regarding the workforce. Both studies were funded primarily by RWJF, but in concert with the NJ Board of Nursing, including some funding;
• Revised and published a statewide LPN to RN and RN to BSN articulation model; all schools endorsed the model. An evaluation of the model’s use and seamlessness is in process with a scheduled date of completion early next year. 
•  Developed and published an Integrated Competency-Based Nursing Practice Model. Using a research framework, the model was developed inductively from a series of nine interactive forums with NJ nurses and stakeholders;
• A unique volunteer recruitment and image enhancement program is being piloted in Newark schools. The program, “I Care About Nursing” (I CAN) was developed in Atlantic County with a grant from the RWJF NJ Health Initiatives Program. We have revised and expanded the program and are training RN volunteers and beginning selected health literacy events in Newark.
• Collaborate with other groups, particularly the NJ Nursing Initiative of the RWJF and the AARP/RWJF Center to Champion Nursing in America;
• Geri L. Dickson serves as a charter member of the National Forum of Nursing Workforce Centers. In 2006 the Center hosted the annual national conference of the Forum; and
• Published a book that began with the above conference: Dickson, G.L., & Flynn, Linda (Eds), 2009. Nursing policy research: Turning evidence-based research into health policy. New York: Springer.

This is a non-inclusive list of accomplishments, all of which are based on serving as a primary source for data and information about the nursing workforce in New Jersey. “Together, we strive to ensure the right nurse for the right patient, at the right time, and at the right cost for quality care in New Jersey” (NJCCN brochure, p.3).

Prepared by: Geri L. Dickson, Ph., RN