Welcome to our Region 1 webpage. Region 1 is a very active group of professional nurses. We enjoy supporting continuing education endeavors and encouraging student involvement. We participate in various volunteer opportunities throughout the year within our four counties (Morris, Sussex, Warren, and Passaic). Visit our event calendar frequently for upcoming opportunities to give back to our community. Our meetings are held in each county on a rotating basis. I speak on behalf of our Board of Directors when we welcome your attendance at our meetings.
To share a little about myself…. I have been a healthcare provider for over 33 years. I graduated with my BSN at Trenton State College and completed my MSN in Patient Safety and Quality at Southern New Hampshire University. I began my career as an Oncology Nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital, Hoboken, NJ. I worked as an Oncology Case Manager at St. Barnabas Medical Center for their Outpatient Cancer Center and am now a Clinical Oncology Nurse (CNIII) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @ Basking Ridge for 25 years on the infusion unit as a treating nurse, verification nurse, and charge nurse.
I enjoy participating in many professional organizations, including the Oncology Nursing Society, the American Nursing Association, and the Infusion Nursing Society. I am passionate about workplace violence, especially verbal abuse in our healthcare system, bringing awareness, support, and education to all healthcare providers and the institutions that they work for. I am also enthusiastic about research and evidence-based knowledge to share with my colleagues. Throughout the years, I have had publications in several evidence-based journals with another colleague. I am on the National Workplace Violence Prevention Committee, part of the ANA Nursing Practice & Work Environment Division. I am also actively involved in MSK’s Evidence-Based SEEK Program as a co-mentor for nurses interested in learning more about evidence-based practice and making process changes to enhance professional practice and the patient’s experience.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, traveling, and relaxing with a good book.
I look forward to meeting you at our next Region 1 meeting.
Karen Kinsley MSN RN OCN
NJSNA Region 1 President 2024-2025
Region 1 nurses march in the Hackettstown St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, March 13th. Under the leadership of Lauren Krause, Warren County Coordinator, NJSNA Region 1 participated in the parade. It was so much fun, despite the frigid temps. Special thanks to Peggy and Rich Daingerfield, Daria Napierkowski and sweet pup Rusty, and Linda Katstra from Warren County School Nurses Association for braving the bitter cold (26 degrees, windchill 19) and snow flurries this afternoon.
And it was wonderful marching again after 2 years cancellation during covid.
Region 1 celebrated our nursing excellence at the Institute for Nursing C.A.R.E.S. Awards Gala held on April 8th, 2021. Five nurses (Sandra Foley, Cristen Mackwell, Elisa Green, Moira Kendra and Kem Louie) from Region 1 were nominated by their peers and colleagues. Elisa Green won the Clinical Practice award. Kem Louie won the Education Award while Sandy Foley received second honorable mention for Education. It was a great night for our Region. Congratulations to all who were nominated; you represent the best of Region 1.
Social Media Presence
Follow our social media pages for the most up-to-date for our events and news postings. Twitter and Instagram handles are @NJSNARegion1. Facebook link is as follows: NJSNA REGION 1 FACEBOOK PAGE
ANA is a friend and ally to 4 million registered nurses in the U.S., throughout all specialties and practice settings. Together, we have the power to advance the nursing profession and create a health care environment in which nurses can thrive.
Our Region continues to proudly offer and provide assistance to a nursing student by sponsoring the Dr. Foley and Brian Foley scholarship. Please visit the NJSNA IFN website for more information. NJSNA Region1 Scholarship Information
Karen Kinsley, President
Ruth Ochoa, President-elect
Tara Parker, Past President
Adriana Morales-Grafals, Secretary
Leslie DeHerde, Treasurer
Lauren Krause, VP for Communications
Ruth Ochoa, VP for Education
MaryAnne Marra, VP for Fundraising
Alaina Scala-Brew, VP for Membership
Lisa Merkle-Foley, VP to the Congress on Policy
County Coordinators
Francesca Nordin, Morris County
Tanya Anevski, Passaic County
Lauren Krause, Sussex County
Lauren Krause, Warren County
Rachel Koshy, Interested Nurses Political Action Committee
Nominations Committee Chair, Jackie Galante
