The following is the New Jersey Nursing Initiative (NJNI) weekly news roundup, highlighting nursing and health care stories from around the state.

Opinion: New Jersey hospitals prepared for public health threats (NJToday.net)
NJNI Program Co-Director Aline Holmes writes: “It’s hard to miss the news reports about Ebola and enterovirus (EV-D68). People are understandably nervous and anxious but New Jersey residents can rest assured that our hospitals are well prepared to deal with these types of public health threats.”

New Jersey nurses contribute to state’s increased breast-feeding rates (Nurse.com)
More new mothers are breast-feeding in New Jersey thanks to concerted efforts by the state’s department of health as well as nurses who are educating women about the benefits and supporting them after delivery.

Woodbury hospital’s nurses vote to join union (NJ Biz)
The nurses at Inspira Medical Center-Woodbury have voted to join the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union, which currently represents the nurses at Inspira’s three other hospitals in southern New Jersey.