Hello! My name is Alexis Chiu, and I am honored to serve as the NJNS 2022-2023

Breakthrough to Nursing Director. I am currently a sophomore at Rutgers School of Nursing -New Brunswick, completing my Bachelor of Science degree with a certification in Public health in mind.

Ever since I was younger, I have always been exposed to the Healthcare Field because my family members were mostly Doctors and Nurses and I was inspired by the support and compassion they gave to others. However, my interest in Nursing fully developed during my senior year of high school. Whether it be the ability to choose morning or night shifts and working overtime, or having the ability to specialize in careers such as Travel nurses, aesthetic nurses, or ICU nurses, I loved the flexibility that was offered as a Nurse.

Aside from being a nursing student, I enjoy going out with friends, trying new places to eat, and spending quality time with my pets and family. In addition, some new hobbies I am trying to pursue are learning how to play guitar, creating art, and investing in more plants!

Alexis Chiu

Program Coordinator

Hello students! My name is Lauren Bedell, and I am the President of the New Jersey Nursing Students Inc. (NJNS). I am currently a student at Trinitas School of Nursing/RWJBarnabas Health. I also serve the nursing student community by serving as the Vice President of my school’s Student Nurse Association (SNA), and previously served as an SNA class representative in 2021. I have also held the position of NJNS Fundraising Director for the 2021-2022 term. In addition, I work full-time as a pharmacy technician for the inpatient pharmacy at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Interacting with patients and healthcare colleagues in the hospital setting has further piqued my interest in nursing. I am particularly interested in critical care nursing.

I firmly believe that it is never too early to plan for success, and it is my honor and privilege to serve as a potential mentor for any students interested in the field of nursing. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me anytime at LaurenJBedell@gmail.com

Lauren Bedell

Hi everyone! My name is Florencia Favale and I am a senior at Trinitas School of Nursing. I knew from a young age that I wanted to make a difference in the field of healthcare and as I learned more about nursing I developed a passion for the profession. Being able to care for others in a vulnerable time of their life is such a meaningful experience. There is so much more to nursing than what is shown and it takes a lot of determination and dedication, but it is beyond rewarding. I hope to work with women and children after I graduate and continue my journey to attain a higher education.

Florencia Favale

Hi everyone! My name is Julia Jin, I am a sophomore at Rutgers University School of Nursing in New Brunswick, and I am the treasurer of NJNS.

My interest in nursing sparked from my mother who is a passionate mother-baby nurse. Her stories of the lives she had touched truly inspired me, and I fell in love with the nursing initiative and its holistic approach to patient care. Outside nursing, I love baking, hiking, skiing, playing soccer, and taking care of ducks. Above all, I love spending time with friends and family!

Julia Jin

Hi, my name is Kelly Cheng and I am the Pulsebeat Editor and Public Relations Director of New Jersey Nursing Students, Inc. (NJNS) for the 2022-2023 term. I am currently a sophomore at the Rutgers School of Nursing in New Brunswick pursuing my Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing degree.

Nursing school has been a great experience so far and has only furthered my interest in the career. Although I am still exploring the various opportunities of nursing, I am particularly interested in cardiac and family care nursing. For the rest of my nursing school journey, I hope to expand on my experiences, to be active outside of classes, and make the most out of my time as a nursing student.

Aside from NJNS, I also enjoy being part of school organizations and expanding my experiences in the healthcare field. I am the Public Relations Chairperson for the Rutgers School of Nursing (RUSON) Senate this school year. In addition, I also enjoy working at a pediatrics/family care office. These experiences have helped me grow my passion for nursing and encouraged me to work hard to become the best nurse I can be.

Outside of nursing, I enjoy cooking, baking, playing tennis, and thrifting. Some of my favorite activities include getting food with friends, shopping online, and going to the movie theater. I look forward to working with the other board members and advisors to make this a memorable and insightful experience! Feel free to contact me at publicrelations@njnsinc.org with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have.

Kelly Cheng

Hi everyone, my name is Purandhri Prajapati, and I am the Health Policy and Advocacy Director for the 2022-2023 term. I am a current sophomore attending the Rutgers school of Nursing and pursuing a B.S in Nursing degree.

Ever since I was little, I knew I always wanted to be in the medical field where I could help save lives and see patients in a healthier condition. Being able to treat the ones suffering or going through a disease is something I have always been wanting to do. This made me realize how I wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives which further encouraged me to choose nursing.

Purandhri Prajapati

Hello, there! My name is Joelle Motley, and I am excited to serve as the 2022- 2023 Secretary for the New Jersey Nursing Students, Inc. (NJNS). I am currently a senior at Rutgers University – Camden, completing my Bachelor of Science in nursing and my goal is to become an ICU Nurse and Nurse Researcher. After serving on the Resolutions Committee for the National Student Nursing Association, Inc. (NSNA) as a committee member and as the Resolutions Chair for two consecutive years, I am delighted to utilize my organizational skills to serve the nursing students of New Jersey. As an asthmatic, I have frequently been in a patient in hospitals. Having both good and bad experiences as a patient, I became motivated to become a nurse to increase the good experiences and perhaps motivate others to do the same.

Joelle Motley