Nurse Practitioner Programs in New Jersey: Facts & Figures

New Jersey is taking steps to combat a worsening shortage of nurses by offering incentives to nurses who pursue advanced degrees with the intent to become nurse educators themselves. They recognize the growing need for educators in order to address the increased demand for nurses, so with the help of $30 million in funding, many nurses have already been hired while others are pursuing their doctoral degrees. With this new initiative, they expect to have more than 60 new nurse educators by 2016.

Forty-seven percent of the RNs in New Jersey have a bachelor’s degree, and the state hopes to increase that number by 80 person over the next eight to 10 years through this initiative . In this time they expect more nurses with advanced degrees to fill positions, such as nurse practitioners, that will be needed as the population ages and continues to need more advanced care. Currently, the Board of Nursing in New Jersey offers nursing licenses for the following:

• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

Nursing Licensure in New Jersey

Licensure requirements for nurses are mandated by each state; the New Jersey Board of Nursing operates under the Department of Law & Public Safety Division of Consumer Affairs. The nursing board licenses those who have fulfilled all of the necessary steps, as well as regulates the profession. In order to be able to practice as a licensed nurse in the state of New Jersey, individuals must first complete the following requirements:

1. Complete a board-approved nursing program
2. Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
3. Complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education credits during the two-year period preceding renewal
4. Maintain an active nursing license by renewing it every two years

For advanced practice nurses, requirements for licensure vary state to state. Generally your area of specialization determines which requirements must be met in order to maintain eligibility.

Average Nursing Salaries in New Jersey

All salary data is as of May 2011.

According to information reported by The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a registered nurse working in New Jersey is $76,460; this is just over $7,000 more a year compared to the national average of $69,110. When you look at New Jersey’s major metropolitan areas, all average salaries sit higher than the U.S. average, the highest occurring in New York-White Plains-Wayne at $83,060.