Problems using a multi-state license in Florida!?

[Kaiyas]

Hi all! I couldn't find any information on this topic so I thought I'd share my experiences. I'm a new grad with a multi-state license from North Carolina. My family is going to be moving to Florida next year, so I came ahead of time to get a job and some housing set up. I've applied to numerous hospitals in south Florida and several called me back for interviews. When I told them that my license was from NC, every single hospital told me that I couldn't work there. They stated that I HAD to get a Florida license and they wouldn't even consider hiring me unless they could look me up on the FLBON site!!

Now, since I'm moving to Florida, I know I will have to transfer my license here, but I thought that I could at least work for 90 days on a multi-state license while awaiting to get my Florida license by endorsement. But apparently that is not the case. So, I'm transferring my license, but now I'll be out of work for however long it takes the FLBON to approve me.

What's the point of Florida even joining the compact if hospitals won't accept any license except a Florida one?

Has anyone else run into this either in Florida or other compact states?

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

Yes, the NC 'multi-state license' status is only active when your permanent residence is in NC. In fact, the minute you change your permanent address in the NCBON system to an out-of-state address, your status goes from 'multi-state' to 'single-state' automatically. I think this is a fairly common practice in Compact states. It does seem like the primary purpose of being in the Compact is to benefit temporary workers (travelers, etc.).

A lot of states will grant you a 'temporary' license that allows you to practice while your permanent license is being processed. Most of the Compact states use the national Nursys database to verify licensure, so it seems like they process endorsement applicants fairly quickly (as opposed to states where you have to track down and submit your nursing school transcripts and diploma for approval). Even with a temporary license, they'd be able to look you up on the FL BON site.

I'm surprised that hospitals won't allow you to interview and start pre-employment activities until you have your FL license. However, legally you wouldn't be able to start your unit-based orientation until after your temporary FL license has been approved (since after you move your NC license will be 'single-state,' and in FL you'd be practicing without a license.)

[Kaiyas]

My license becoming single state when I move makes a lot more sense. Thank you for that information!

I was surprised too when they stopped the whole process and told me to contact them when I had a Florida license. The thing that bothers me is that neither one asked about if my NC license was single or multi-state after my move. Their words were "If we can't find you on the FLBON site, we can't hire you." Which made it sound like even if I was continuing to live in NC and only crossing state lines to work, they still wouldn't even consider me.

I even mentioned the Nursys system to look up multi-state licenses and was told that they are only permitted to search for licenses on the FLBON website. Very bizarre (to me anyway).