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

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

My concern would be disciplinary actions. Local nursing boards can be a lot more responsive in my opinion. Federal issues seem to take a lot longer and need a lot more bureauocracy. I wouldn't mind a national license if local control still existed. Look at JCAH, I don't THEM controlling my personal license, they pull enough nonsense at the hospital level.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

great series of articles on this subject in online journal of issues in nursing

multistate licensure: who owns your care?

by greer glazer, rn, phd, cnp, faan (may 31, 1999)

[color=#aa5522]articles

from the articles above:

the major concerns expressed by nurses across the country against multistate licensure are:

1.the standards of a state will be weakened

2. consumer protection is not improved with the model

3. state boards of nursing will be weakened

4. there is lack of detail about the centralized database-

administration/cost/use/monitoring

5. the ability of state nurses associations to achieve optimal standards,

working conditions and compensation for nurses may be compromised

6. there is lack of clarity about dual disciplinary actions

7. the cost of mutual recognition is unknown

8. any major change in nurse licensure should be made by the profession and the consumers it serves.

i've highlighted my concerns, let the discussion continue.

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I am curious. NOT disagreeing with you outright, but can you please expound on this by explaining WHY you prefer to pay for several licenses by state?

Just opposed to the bureaucracy and what's to say a federal license wouldn't end up costing more. Would just prefer the states to work it out as some are already doing with compacts.

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I wouldn't want it. There are certain standards that my state has adopted that other states haven't that I think are important for the profession. I'm happy with the BORN in my state wouldn't want any other regulatory authority handling these matters.

I also don't think a driver's license is the same as nursing. As we all know, the skill level and regulatory issues are much more complicated than driving a car.

:smokin:

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Specializes in Neuro Critical Care.

The compact state idea is great but keep in mind that you must live in one of the states in order to use the compact. For example: I hold a NC license from when I lived in NC, when I started traveling I gave up the NC address and thus gave up my ability to use the compact. When I was trying to be licensed in AZ (which is a compact state) I had to apply and pay all applicable fees because I did not live in a compact state. Make sense?

I love the idea of a federalized license, even if it costs a little more. Lets get all the states using the same scope of practice and get everyone requiring the same amount of CE credits.

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while I wrote federalize in my OP, I actually think that the same goal could be accomplished by simply mandating that EVERY state grant reciprocity through a framework like the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact. If federalization were to occur though....... The argument about nursing being more complex than driving doesn't quite work when you consider the Airframe and Powerplant license post. A&P is a highly specialized skill requiring extensive education, critical thinking and often has hundreds of lives depending on it being done well. If these licenses are federal, why not nursing? Someone mentioned that the cost and beauracracy would be greater. There is no way that it could cost any more in money, or in paperwork than what I've paid for just 3 states. As far as tracking problem nurses... a total non-issue. As I mentioned in my OP, I can go to most Boards websites, type in a name and 5 seconds later have the status of that individuals license, its expiration date, etc, etc... Good discussion!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Simple Reciprocity mandated by the Feds would be enough. Each state would be required to recognize that an RN can practice in any state on passing the NCLEX and with the credentials granted by her state. An extra fee to grant practice priviledges could be required (so the states wouldn't balk too much and can get their greedy hands on our money). But the license acceptance would be automatic with forwarding of a copy of records by each state mandatory (they would be so happy :p since our state could charge us a fee for each copy sent).

Elimination of fingerprinting and background checks could be controlled by a central clearing agency. Simply put. Every employer would be required to send in a simple form with our name and license number so that a record could be kept of every place we practice. Any problems with the nurse could also be reported to the same agency. Any state that wanted to check on a nurse could do so.

I'm sure there are many ways to accomplish this without too much trouble. Regardless , its WAY OVERDUE.

Our national organizations are lax in helping with this. We may just need to rise up and demand this action. Ready for revolution? :coollook:

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I think scope of practice should be the same in all states, too.

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That's one of the best ideas I've heard in AGES!!!

Definitely needed in today's world of travel nursing!

:coollook:

I had to write to tell u, I absolutely love the quote u have....Perfect words for that feeling.....
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DITTO THAT! I,m not an RN yet, but I want to travel after I get some time in.

I think this is a GREAT idea. :idea: Someone has their thinking cap on. I will be keeping up withthis idea and see if I can join others that would like to see a change in licensing. It would be nice to see nurses going where they are needed without having to go thru red tape everytime they go to another state. Time for a change!

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Critical Care/ ED.

I know I will sound completely ignorant here :imbar , but can someone please explain to me what a compact state is?

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http://www.ncsbn.org/nlc/index.asp

simply put, if you live, and hold a license in one of these states, you can use that license to practice in any of the other states listed.

"civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the state becomes lawless and corrupt" - Mahatma Gandhi

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