Scam Alert
The Division of Consumer Affairs (Division) is warning all licensed professionals about individuals impersonating New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) investigators, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, DEA investigators, New Jersey Drug Control Unit investigators, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigators, and other law enforcement personnel, as part of an extortion scheme. The impersonators are contacting licensees by telephone or letter, stating that they are the subject of an investigation. The callers are demanding money to clear up the matter, or threatening to revoke the individual's license. Please be advised that the Division of Consumer Affairs will not contact licensees by telephone to discuss investigations or demand money. Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be any of the above mentioned individuals seeking money, should refuse the demand. We encourage you to report the call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at
ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You may also report the call to the Division at
AskConsumerAffairs@lps.state.nj.us.
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CGFNS (CES Report)
The Board of Nursing has become aware that some individuals are having difficulty obtaining a CES report from CGFNS. Please be advised that the individuals who are applying for New Jersey licensure via Endorsement may either have your current state of plenary licensure send your CES report directly to the New Jersey Board of Nursing (if permitted by that state) at
NJLOC@dca.njoag.gov or you may directly upload your copy of the CES report you received from CGFNS to your online portal. Individuals who are applying to New Jersey as a new licensee via the Exam option must have the CES report sent directly from CGFNS to the Board. |
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The New Jersey Board of Nursing will begin accepting applications for and issuing multi-state Compact licenses on Monday, November 15, 2021. Current licensees who reside in New Jersey, have no active discipline, and are not enrolled in an Alternative to Discipline program may be eligible to apply and should choose, LPN or RN Multi-State License by Upgrade. New applicants should choose "Initial Application," LPN or RN Candidate by Application.
A multi-state Compact license will be issued to new applicants who qualify. Please be advised that all online nursing applications will not be available from Thursday, November 11th at 6:00 a.m. through Monday, November 15th at 10:00 a.m. while we update our systems. All nursing applications that have been started in eGov. but not yet submitted with the application payment to the Board by 6:00 a.m November 11th, will be deleted. If you are unable to complete your application and pay the application fee by 6:00 a.m on November 11th, you will have an opportunity to begin a new application following our system update on November 15th. Applications that have been submitted to the Board and currently in "pending" status will not be affected by this update. To confirm your status, please log into your account at https://newjersey.mylicense.com/eGov/Login, or view your status at https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/
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On March 28, 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) issued a
Temporary Waiver permitting Certified Homemaker Home Health Aides (CHHAs) to function in the role of Certified Nurse Aides in long-term care (LTC) facilities. The stated purpose of the waiver was to address staffing issues that were occurring in the facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a condition of initial certification and renewal, CHHAs are required to be employed by a home health services agency and work under the direction of a registered professional nurse. CHHA employers register with the Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Nursing (Board), and maintain a list of current CHHA employees so that only individuals who are currently employed are eligible for certification and renewal.
CHHAs are renewing their certifications now through December 31, 2021. Consistent with the waiver, many CHHAs are employed by LTC facilities; however, as these facilities are not registered with the Board as CHHA employers, the CHHAs are unable to renew and face the prospect of losing their HHA certifications. The Division of Consumer Affairs and Board are urging LTC facilities that currently employ CHHAs to register with the Board and verify the CHHAs’ employment so that the employed CHHAs may renew their certifications without issue.
Please complete the Employer Registration Form and email it to: DOHWaiverCHHA@dca.njoag.gov You will receive instructions via email on creating an account and an employee list once your facility is registered with the Board. The Division and the Board hope that this process will ensure the continuation of CHHA staff care for your residents.
Employer Registration Form
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On July 6, 2021 the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs issued Administrative Order 2021-16, which supersedes and replaces DCA AO 2020-17 and relaxes standards for the reopening and continued operation of nursing programs and certified homemaker-home health aide programs. DCA AO 2021-16 removes a majority of the restrictions established by DCA AO 2020-17, including requirements for facilitating social distancing and the submission of a restart plan. Though the Administrative Order eliminates many requirements, all programs involving clinical instruction must ensure that students comply with all applicable health and safety standards, including the Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard issued by the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, when providing services to patients. The Division has also issued guidance regarding best practices for these programs. To learn more, click here.
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COVID-19 Immunization Administration by Health Care Practitioners-in-Training
On February 19, 2021, the Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs issued Administrative Order 2021-08 and Waiver 2021-04, which permits health care practitioners-in-training, which are students in medical schools, physician assistant programs, and nursing programs, to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to patients upon direction from a supervising health care practitioner. The Order and Waiver defines a “supervising health care practitioner” as a doctor of medicine (M.D.), a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.), a registered professional nurse (R.P.N.), an advanced practice nurse (A.P.N.), a physician assistant (P.A.), or a pharmacist (R.Ph.). The Order and Wavier requires a supervising health care practitioner to ensure that the health care practitioner-in-training has an attestation from a faculty member that attests that the health care practitioner-in-training is enrolled in an educational program, has completed the appropriate level of didactic education, and will have oversight while participating in a COVID-19 vaccinator program. The supervising health care practitioner also must ensure that the health care practitioner-in-training has completed CDC training in vaccination and is competent to administer a COVID-19 vaccine. Registered professional nurses and advanced practice nurses should read and familiarize themselves with the provisions of this order.
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COVID-19 Immunization Administration by Additional Health Care Practitioners
On February 19, 2021, the Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs issued Administrative Order 2021-07 and Waiver 2021-03, which permits authorized health care personnel to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to patients upon direction from a supervising health care practitioner. The Order and Waiver defines “authorized health care personnel” as “licensed practical nurses, certified homemaker home health aides, dentists, respiratory care therapists, perfusionists, podiatrists, optometrists, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and dental hygienists with local anesthesia permits.” A “supervising health care practitioner” is defined as “a doctor of medicine (M.D.), a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.), a registered professional nurse (R.P.N.), an advanced practice nurse (A.P.N.), a physician assistant (P.A.), or a pharmacist (R.Ph.).” The Order and Wavier requires a supervising health care practitioner to determine if authorized health care personnel are licensed in New Jersey and have been trained and are competent to administer a COVID-19 vaccine prior to directing authorized health care personnel to administer the vaccine. Registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, advanced practice nurses, and certified homemaker home health aides should read and familiarize themselves with the provisions of this order.
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COVID-19 Immunization Administration by Additional Health Care Practitioners
On February 19, 2021, the Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs issued Administrative Order 2021-06 and Waiver 2021-02, which permits a certified medical assistant to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to patients upon direction from a supervising health care practitioner. The Order and Waiver defines a “supervising health care practitioner” as a doctor of medicine (M.D.), a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.), a registered professional nurse (R.P.N.), an advanced practice nurse (A.P.N.), a physician assistant (P.A.), or a pharmacist (R.Ph.). The Order and Waiver waives provisions of N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.4 that limit CMAs to administering injections solely in physicians’ offices, mandate physicians to make determinations as to appropriateness of treatment, and prohibit CMAs from administering vaccines that have received Emergency Use Authorization but have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Order and Wavier requires a supervising health care practitioner to determine if a CMA is competent to administer a COVID-19 vaccine and to ensure that the CMA receives proper supervision when administering the vaccine. Registered professional nurses and advanced practice nurses should read and familiarize themselves with the provisions of this order.
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Registering with and reporting to the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS)
On January 5, 2021, the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs issued Administrative Order 2021-04, which requires licensed health care providers who are authorized to administer vaccines to register and report to the NJIIS when administering a vaccine for COVID-19. Registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses should read and familiarize themselves with the requirements of this order.
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