eNLC questions

[LMGA_RN]

Hi Yall!

So I am currently a RN in North Dakota with a multistate license (ND is a compact state). I have recently found out my husband's job will be moving us to Oklahoma which is now part of the enhanced compact license agreement.

I have applied to a facility that is telling me that I will need to apply for a Oklahoma license which will take 4-6 weeks and it will cause me to loose out on the job opportunity I have applied for.

From my understanding, I am able to practice in Oklahoma with my multistate license in North Dakota and once I establish residency I can apply for a license in Oklahoma to declare it my home state and notify ND I have moved. If this is correct I should be able to start working in the position I had applied for.

The HR representative I am working with at this facility has notified me and stated that she is unable to verify my license on the Oklahoma BON website. I'm assuming because my home state is in ND and that is the state I have a multistate license in.

I have tried to contact NCSBN and the Oklahoma state board of nursing, I spoke to someone at OKBON and they told me I am able to work in OK as long as I have a multistate compact license but it seems like this HR rep is not sure about the eNLC changes.

Does anyone have any insight or experience with relocating to new states in the eNLC?

[EGspirit]

Once you move, you don't have a multi-state license anymore. I was in the same boat. The multi-state license is only to facilitate temp and travel nurses. So, I'm not surprised that the HR department is reluctant, owing to the fact that you don't actually have a OK license. You have a ND license. If you know you're moving there for sure, then start applying for reciprocity now. As you mentioned, it takes time to get.

Good luck to you, my friend.

[chare]

Yes, you are correct, as both ND and OK are members of the eNLC, you should be able to work either 30 or 90 days on your ND license after you relocate; I am not sure which is correct for OK.

As to human resources, OK being a member of the ENLC is new, as the eNLC has only been effective since the 19th. You might try and speak with a nurse recruiter and ask how you should answer the question regarding how to respond to the licensure question on the application.

...If you know you're moving there for sure, then start applying for reciprocity now. As you mentioned, it takes time to get.

[...]

She can't; both states are members of the eNLC.

[ballstonspa]

Hi,

The new eNLC information is really confusing, and it will take a while for everyone to be on the same page. I think ( I hope ) this explains your situation. As a North Dakota resident you can use your compact license to work in Oklahoma. Because Oklahoma just joined the eNLC, however, all of the nurses who are legal residents of Oklahoma are given a choice of keeping a single state license or getting a compact license. They must actually apply for the compact license through the state BON and get approved, before they can have multi-state privileges. This is also true for nurses in Florida, Georgia, West Virginia, and Wyoming, because all of these states just joined the compact.

When you move to Oklahoma, you will lose your North Dakota compact license. You will have to apply for a new Oklahoma compact license. If you were moving from Virginia (an original NLC state), to Maine ( another original NLC state), you could practice in Maine, using your Virginia license, until your Maine license was issued. The new rules state that you must apply for your Maine license as soon as you establish legal residence in Maine.

As far as what rules apply to Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island nurses.......every one of their BON websites says a slightly different thing. Three of these states joined the eNLC at the last minute, and Rhode Island just introduced a bill into the state legislature.

Supposedly if you log onto NURSYS.com, you can see what states you can practice in with your current license. I also recommend looking at the NCSBON website. It has a lot of really excellent information that will probably help you. Try e-mailing Jim Puente at the NCSBON. He is one of the directors there and understands how confusing this transition is for all of us.

Good Luck!