Harvey Disaster Relief - Texas Board of Nursing to Implement Disaster Licensing Procedure

Many nurses want to help out with disaster relief but have questions about practicing in another state where they are not licensed. The Texas BON has released this information.

Harvey Disaster Relief - Texas Board of Nursing to Implement Disaster Licensing Procedure

From the Texas Board of Nursing

"The BON is implementing a disaster licensing procedure to respond to this declared disaster.

The BON is not soliciting volunteers. Nurses wishing to volunteer may register with the Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry

If individuals or employers are seeking to bring in nurses from other states, we will expedite temporary licenses by endorsement applications. Nurses from Compact states with current multistate compact licenses need not apply and may come to Texas to practice without application.

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Nurses from non-compact states will need to follow this procedure:

  1. Pull endorsement application from the Board website:
    Texas Board of Nursing (RN) or
    Texas Board of Nursing (LVN)
  2. WRITE "HARVEY/THE NAME OF EMPLOYING FACILITY" IN CAPS AT TOP OF APPLICATION
  3. Complete the form and return it to the BON:
  4. Applications will be reviewed and if applicant has no current discipline or other eligibility issue, they will be issued a temporary license to practice for the purpose of responding to the declared emergency.
  5. This license will expire in 120 days or at the end of the declared emergency, whichever comes first.
  6. A list of all approved temporary licenses issued for this purpose will be maintained by the BON.


If an employer/facility is seeking nurses for disaster relief, please send an email to [email protected] to inform the Board of the intent to hire relief nurses to respond to the disaster."

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tnbutterfly - Mary

About tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I've been thinking about volunteering, even though I haven't worked in three years and am on disability. Unfortunately, the question about mental illness throws a huge monkey wrench in the works so I can't go. I guess I'll have to reach into my wallet for a small donation. I wish good things for the nurses who do volunteer to help out.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
I've been thinking about volunteering, even though I haven't worked in three years and am on disability. Unfortunately, the question about mental illness throws a huge monkey wrench in the works so I can't go. I guess I'll have to reach into my wallet for a small donation. I wish good things for the nurses who do volunteer to help out.

You can volunteer to go as a Red Cross volunteer and do non-nursing tasks. There is always a need for help in the shelters and elsewhere. Check with your local Red Cross chapter. There is training involved.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Developmental Disorders.

Hi, TNbutterfly. I signed up to volunteer with American Red Cross and filled out the online background check. I can do the 9-day deployment they were asking for. Have you ever worked with Red Cross before? Just trying to ask around and figure out what a typical shift/day/deployment looks like. Thanks!

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
Hi, TNbutterfly. I signed up to volunteer with American Red Cross and filled out the online background check. I can do the 9-day deployment they were asking for. Have you ever worked with Red Cross before? Just trying to ask around and figure out what a typical shift/day/deployment looks like. Thanks!

I was deployed to New Orleans after Katrina. At that time, the commitment was for 3 weeks. It depends on where you land as to what you will be doing. You probably won't know until you get to the area where you will go. Assignments are based on need at the time. I was sent to a very large shelter outside of New Orleans. Staff had sleeping quarters in the gym at a nearby church. We slept on cots and/or air mattresses. The shelter was staffed 24/7, but nurses were not the only ones there. The nurses were there to oversee and take care of those with health needs. We had people who had been evacuated from hospitals as well as others who did not have acute needs. We helped with medication needs for those whoe had to leav their meds behind. Many different things.

You will receive a list of things to take with you. There will also be a list of the expectations of hazards you may encouter......no electricity, no drinkable water, hazmat-type of showers, extreme heat, etc. Go prepared and be flexible.

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Hi, I signed up as a volunteer with the Red Cross yesterday and got the email back regarding passing their background check. I am really hoping to hear back from them and be allowed to go on atleast 1 of their 9 day commitments. Nursing has been great to me and my family financially and with free time. I would like to start giving back. I have ER experience and currently am the Assistant Manager(I run the night shift) of an ER Obs unit. I'd be willing to work outside of nursing if that is what the Red Cross needed.

I know it will be a process but do you have any experience with how long it takes for new volunteers to get up and running with them? I'm really looking to be a part of something bigger than myself for the long term. Being a part of a team with the Red Cross sounds awesome.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

It is an awesome and very humbling experience.....one you will never forget.

I am glad you are willing to work outside of nursing if needed. Remembering to put the "victims'" needs first is of utmost importance. Some of the nurses I worked alongside acted offended if they were asked to do that which seemed to lower their importance as an ER, Critical Care Nurse, etc. It's not about us. Use your skills as a person and a nurse wherever they are needed.

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Cool. Nursing is a second career for me(7 years in) so I'm not offended by doing other sorts of work. I've caddied at golf courses, picked up dog poop and the most humbling of all, been a pharmaceutical sales rep. So I'm good to go with anything they ask.

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I was curious if anyone has done disaster response through a health care compony... through a hospital system. I am courses how long some have been "deployed"? Any insight is appreciated.

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I am a new nurse who just passed NCLEX in California but have been out of school for the last 5 years.. With work experience only in caregiving for seniors and volunteer work at hospitals in the ER, would I apply for the same application for a temporary license to help volunteer for Texas? I would love to take this opportunity to get my feet wet, literally :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, post surgical.

The first thing that crossed my mind is that I haven't started an IV since I had wrist surgery about two years ago. All of our patients come with IVs so a lot of us on my floor are rusty.

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Hi I am licenced in Canada (ON), I have been trying to find out how I can go and do Emergency Relief. I am an ER nurse with Paeds exp. I am also CAMATA certified (flight nursing/medivac). If anyone can share how to go about it, I will go and help

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