Executive Director, New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing

Edna has served as the Executive Director for the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN) from 2014 until the present time. The Center under her leadership has sought solutions for nursing workforce challenges using data to support change, working with partners from across the state. She continues to advocate for the nursing workforce through various legislative initiatives. These include: eliminating practice barriers for APNs to improve access to care for NJ residents, nurse residency programs for new to practice nurses across settings, funding for schools to increase enrollment, and tax credits for APN preceptors. Since 2010, she served as a co-lead for the New Jersey Action Coalition which focuses on implementing the Future of Nursing reports from the National Academy of Medicine. She is a Clinical Professor at Rutgers University School of Nursing and past Specialty Director for the graduate Leadership Tracks. Prior to July of 2010 she was the Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center which was designated as a Magnet facility starting in 2002. She is a past president of the Organization of Nurse Executives of New Jersey and past Commissioner of the ANCC Pathway to Excellence Program. Most recently she has served as the co-chair for the revision of the Scope and Standards for Nursing Leadership document for ANA which was published in 2023.

Assistant Professor, Rutgers School of Nursing

Linda J. Hassler, DNP, RN, GCNS-BC, CNE, FGNLA is the Director of Academic-Practice Partnerships and Research Coordination at the Parker Health Group, Highland Park, NJ, where she facilitates interprofessional students in older adult research and hands-on experiences along the continuum of wellness, adult day care, assisted living and long-term care. She is the faculty member for a grant from the NJ Department of Labor Workforce Development /New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing Long Term Care Nurse Residency program for RNs and LPNs throughout the state of NJ. She is a board certified Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist, has been a Supervisor and Director of Nursing in LTC, Oncology educator and Geriatric Program Manager in acute care and a nursing professor in associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing programs.

 Resident Care Specialist, Heath Village

Currently function as Resident Care Specialist for Residential House and Independent residents of Heath Village Community as well as staff educator for any clinical competency and professional growth of the employees. Function as the focal point person for independent living residents seeking health and medical guidance and help navigate them to appropriate modality of treatment. Closely coordinate with housing department in assessing any prospect to determine appropriate setting of residency and level of care. In 2019, Mr. Orlando Egoc was invited to present keynote speech on “Exploring Effective Approaches in Caring Alzheimer’s Dementia Patient with Behavioral Challenges “ during the World Congress on Nursing and Healthcare Management, held in Venice, Italy. In the same year, he was also recognized with a plaque for Excellence in Service and Dedication to the Long Term Care Continuum 2018-2019 during the 32nd Annual NADONA Conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Registered Nurse, Jewish Home Family

Daphney became a PA in 2016 in Santo Domingo and came to the United States in 2017. Once in the US she became a HHA in 2019. While working as an HHA she also attended nursing school in Florida and became an RN in August 2024 receiving an Associate’s Degree in nursing. She relocated to New Jersey and began her career with the Jewish Home Family in September 2024 as an RN. Daphney is the first nurse resident in the program at the Jewish Home.