Confused about NLC and Non-compact states.

[Abrillant12]

Just when I thought I understood the NLC I find myself getting more confused.

I'm a new grad RN licensed in Maine, a compact state. Recently however, I have moved to NJ while my fiancé attends grad school. After waiting forever my license is finally endorsed in NJ, which isn't part of the compact. I have applied to about 70-100 jobs with no success. Not only am I stuck in the rut of being an unemployed new grad RN, but i'm now concerned about claiming residency is NJ and its affect on my Maine compact license.

If I claim residency in NJ will I have my license to practice in Maine? (I do plan on going home to Maine while we are on summer break).

I called the Maine BON and they said that once I change my address I will no longer have my multi state license even though I will still be licensed in Maine and endorsed in NJ. Instead, I will be given a single state license. How does that work?

Anybody have any light to shed on the subject?!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Compact states have two different types of licenses: single state and multi-state (compact). Multi-state is only for nurses that are living in a compact state. If you had a compact license in Maine and move to North Carolina, you would just change your address with NCBON and retain your compact license. If you move out of a compact state, then your license becomes a single state license because you are no longer living in a compact state. I live in Indiana, if I apply to Maine for a license, I could only get a single state license because I don't live in Maine even though Maine is a compact state.

[Abrillant12]

Thank you so much! I was unaware the compact states offered two different types of licenses, which is probably why I was so confused.

[chare]

...If you had a compact license in Maine and move to North Carolina, you would just change your address with NCBON and retain your compact license...

Moving to another compact state and changing your legal residence to the new state requires more than updating your address with the NCBON. You will need to apply for licensure in the state to which you have moved. When you receive your new license it should grant you multi-state privileges and your previous state's compact license will be inactivated as you can only hold one multi-state license at a time.