Federalize Nursing Licenses! Who's with me?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Okay, I've had it. Over the past few months I've spent several hundred dollars on nursing licenses for three states. Between fingerprint fees, license fees,transcript fees, notary fees and worst of all verification fees! This came to a head today when I called my original state of licensure to find out why my verification hadn't been sent out yet, even though I overnight mailed them the request with the check and the check had already cleared my bank. They told me it can take up to 14 days from when they receive the request to when they mail it out. WHY IN THE &*$& DOES IT TAKE 14 DAYS TO SEND OUT A SIMPLE *$% VERIFICATION?

An employer can simply log onto the boards website and verify a license in 5 seconds FOR FREE! They sure didn't wait 14 days to cash my check!

If one state has to honor another states drivers license, why not nursing licenses? If I remember my high school history right (another transcript that required a notarized request!!!), shouldn't this fall under the "full faith and credit" clause of the constitution? Because I'm old an cannot remember the exact wording, I googled it and found the text as follows: "Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof."

Am I alone in thinking this is ridiculous? Congress should mandate national participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact currently signed by 17 states! :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

I completely agree! I plan on moving back North when I finish school, and I am NOT looking forward to having to shell out hundreds of dollars for my license! What if I change my mind and try another state?? Thats right! another few hundred dollars. sheesh.

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

I agree! ..................

I agree. Should be national. However, the license fees are a source of income that offsets the cost of staffing the Boards. Every state would have to either collect a portion from nurses residing in their state, or the Fed govt would have to set up a central location for ALL nurses to register (and use the fees for expenses). It could be done.

I agree a 100% also. Thank about it. Theres a nursing shortage across the country, but yet each state sets their price on the nursing license. You know how that old saying goes, "The rich getter richer and the poor get poorer!

I'll be the lone voice of dissent. I'd rather not have a federalized license. I'll pay the fee for any state in which I choose to work.

Why? That can run in to some major bucks. ALL healthcare professionals should have a federal license.

It's all a money game, of course. Many states are now compact, mine just recently went compact, I think there are what, 17 compact states now? I think that's the way we are all headed, pretty much. Our state, to compensate for loss of reciprocity money is increasing the renewal fees.

What is a "compact" state? I live in Indiana, and sometimes it takes a while for information to float down to us.

Compact states work together and you can use your license from one state in another ..17 states are already compact states..:p

by the way that maybe would eliminate some NURSING BOARDS .......

Specializes in psych, medical, drug rehab.

Bring it on!!!! I agree that a Federal license is the way to go. I understand cognitively the pro's and Cons of this argument but practically we boast of being so advanced. I want a federal license with # so that when I apply to a job in ANY state you can plug my number in and see my resume, last math med test results, all my immunizations, references, CEU's, transcripts, cerificates, CPR, Etc etc Yada, Yada, Yada... lol... I am personnally so sick of filling out forms , taking tests, paying out $$$ and being nickled and dimed to death.You know one week when I moved to Charlotte, NC I went to maybe 5 or 6 different agency's to find work. Do you know how many tests I took? How many PPD's? How many times I saw the OSHA films and took the pre and post tests? hahahaahah... It was rather ridiculous if you ask me! And out of all that work ... I was called so infrequently that now and this includes travel agency's I usually ask what are your current positions available and if they even have any that I am qualified for or interested in then and only then do I send all my paperwork in. Truly it is exhausting!

Forgive me venting but that is my two cents.

:)

+ Add a Comment