The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey will hire additional staff to help perform abortions after a group of nurses claimed they were forced to participate in the procedures despite religious objections, the university said Friday night. “No nurse is compelled to have direct involvement in a procedure to which she or he objects based on his/her cultural values, ethics and/or religious beliefs,” university spokesman Jeffrey Tolvin said in a statement. “At the same time, we needed to find a solution that is in the best interest of the patients we serve. We are therefore hiring additional staff who will provide care to our full complement of patients.”