New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Nurses

Institutional History

The New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Nurses was established by "An Act to regulate the practice of nursing in the State of New Jersey, to register nurses with the privilege of using the abbreviation 'R. N.' and to punish persons violating the provisions thereof," which was passed by the state legislature on 1 April 1912 (Laws of 1912, chap. 354). Composed of five experienced nurses, the board was given the authority to hold examinations for the purpose of qualifying nurses for state registration. Applicants were required to be twenty-one years of age, of good moral character, having grammar school and high school certificates (or their equivalent), and a graduate of a training school for nurses meeting specified criteria. Registered nurse certificates were granted to applicants scoring at least 70% on the examination overall, and at least 60% in each subject. The certificates were also recorded by the county clerk in the nurse's county of residence.

The 1912 legislation further provided for registration without examination for qualified nurses who had graduated prior to passage of the law, as well as reciprocal registration of nurses registered by other states. The board was also authorized to revoke a certificate by unanimous vote in cases of proved dishonesty, incompetence, unsafe habits, or fraud.

The State Board of Examiners of Nurses continued in operation under this name for thirty-five years. In 1947, however, the agency was reconstituted as the New Jersey Board of Nursing and given expanded responsibilities: e.g., the accreditation of nursing schools (Laws of 1947, chap. 262).

225 West State Street
P.O. Box 307
Trenton, NJ 08625-0307
609.292.6260 (general information)
609.633.8334 (administrative office)
609.292.9105 (fax)