The New Jersey State School Nurses Association (NJSSNA) applauds Governor Murphy’s decision to sign bill A4378 authorizing the establishment of a State School Nurse Consultant position within the N.J. Department of Education (NJDOE).

“We want to thank Governor Murphy and the legislature, specifically sponsors Senators Ruiz and Codey and Assembly members Karabinchak, Jasey, and Lampitt for recognizing the tremendous need for a State School Nurse Consultant to bridge the gap between student health and education,” announced Dorian Vicente, President of NJSSNA.

“School nursing services are vital to the health and safety of students,” said Vicente. “Having a highly qualified School Nurse Consultant will serve as a centralized resource for information and provide guidance and leadership for certified school nurses, administrators, staff and parents. This key leadership role will coordinate efforts to address the complex and changing health and safety needs of New Jersey’s 1.4 million students.”

By enacting this law, New Jersey joins forty-four other states throughout the country with similar roles in place. Vicente also emphasized, “This critical leadership position will be a tremendous resource to facilitate communication among NJDOE, NJDOH and other stakeholders and the school districts to best plan, respond and mitigate a variety of public health issues, which are complex in any given year, but currently include COVID-19.”

The New Jersey State School Nurses Association, which represents more than 1,200 Certified School Nurses, seeks to improve health and educational outcomes for children and youth by building the capacity of school nurses to promote school and community wellness and deliver high-quality healthcare in the school setting.