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Bill

A 1665

Authorizes temporary licensure of graduated nursing students; waives fees for nurse licensure applicants who work at long-term care facilities.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Michele Matsikoudis and 2 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill allows unlicensed nursing graduates to work temporarily while waiving licensure fees for nurses in long-term care facilities.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee
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Bill Summary · A 1665

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 1665 allows nursing students who have graduated but not yet passed licensure exams to work temporarily as nurses, while also eliminating licensure fees for nurses employed at long-term care facilities. The bill aims to address nursing shortages in vulnerable care settings by reducing both barriers to entry and financial burdens.

Why is this important

Long-term care facilities face persistent nursing shortages that affect patient safety and quality of care. By allowing graduated nurses to work immediately and waiving fees for those in long-term care, the bill could accelerate workforce availability in understaffed facilities while reducing costs for nurses choosing this career path.

Potential points of contention

  • Patient safety concerns: Allowing unlicensed graduates to practice independently before passing exams raises questions about competency verification and potential liability
  • Equity in fee waivers: Waiving fees only for long-term care workers may be seen as unfairly subsidizing one sector while other healthcare settings face higher costs, or conversely, as an appropriate targeted incentive for underserved populations
  • Financial impact: The bill reduces state licensing revenue and may shift costs to facilities or taxpayers; unclear how temporary licensure period would be enforced and what happens if graduates fail exams

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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