Establishes certain requirements and initiatives related to nurses; transfers oversight of certified nurse aides from DOH to Board of Nursing; appropriates $26.7 million.

The bill transfers oversight of certified nurse aides from the Department of Health to the New Jersey Board of Nursing. It establishes nursing residency programs with $4 million in annual funding for facilities to support new nurses, creates a $25 million grant program for nursing education expansion, and funds a $1.2 million mental health support program including a nurse-to-nurse peer helpline. The bill also requires new surveys for nurses and nursing programs to collect demographic, training, and employment data. These provisions aim to strengthen the nursing workforce through better training, support, and data-driven decision-making.