Originally Posted by elkpark 
All states do practice reciprocity, and the Nurse Licensure Compact is entirely separate from that. The NLC is a program in which nurses licensed in a Compact state can practice in another Compact state without getting a separate, additional license from the other state. You are still only licensed in your original state. It is a relatively new program and, as you note, does not include all states (although it does include more states than you listed).
Any of the 50 states will issue you a license yo practice nursing in that state if you have a current license in good standing in another state and a clean disciplinary record, and pay whatever fee they require (this is what is usually meant by the term "reciprocity" in nursing).
(
ITA, and yet, if you do a search on this site, you will find that people keep asking this same question over, and over, and over, and over, and ....)
If only that were true.... but all States will NOT issue you a license simply because you were licensed in another State and have a clean record. And your check doesn't bounce!
There are educational requirements, for example, the TN BRN required me to complete a Music Appreciation class which I just finished before they will issue my license. I am currently licensed in California and must travel there to work. It will take a while before my paperwork gets processed, usually about 6-8 weeks here. They also do not automatically issue a temp permit unless you have an employer request.
I'm also sorta shaking my head about that comment "she should know this".... but it's true, nurses are generally super smart people. We know where to go for informational resources!
Re: Tennessee RN Requirements
Nursing News