Governor owens signs bill for Compact Licensure for July 2007

[nightingale, RN]

Colorado Joins Ranks of Compact State Licensure in 2007

Here is the legislature article that has been signed by Governor Owens signed the bill June 2nd. Here is the link of the bill (pretty dry stuff):

The Bill

What does it mean to have a Compact License? Here is the link and explanation by The National Council of the State Board of Nursing:

NCSBN

Nurse Licensure Compact Supporters |

The mutual recognition model of nurse licensure allows a nurse to have one license (in his or her state of residency) and to practice in other states (both physical and electronic), subject to each state's practice law and regulation. Under mutual recognition, a nurse may practice across state lines unless otherwise restricted.

In order to achieve mutual recognition, each state must enact legislation authorizing the Nurse Licensure Compact. States entering the compact also adopt administrative rules and regulations for implementation of the compact.

Once the compact is enacted, each compact state designates a Nurse Licensure Compact Administrator to facilitate the exchange of information between the states relating to compact nurse licensure and regulation. On January 10, 2000, the Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (NLCA) were organized to protect the public's health and safety by promoting compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in each party state through the mutual recognition of party state licenses.

Background information about the RN and LPN/VN Nurse Licensure Compact

The process for creating a nurse licensure compact began in 1996 at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Delegate Assembly when delegates voted to investigate different mutual recognition models and report the findings.

* At the 1997 Delegate Assembly, delegates unanimously agreed to endorse a mutual recognition model of nursing regulation.

* Strategies for implementation were also developed in 1997. In that same year, the Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (NLCA) was established to manage compact implementation and to develop compact rules.

* In 1998, the NCSBN Board of Directors approved a policy goal relating to mutual recognition, which included the goal to "remove regulatory barriers to increase access to safe nursing care."

* The RN and LPN/VN Compact began January 1, 2000, when it was passed into law by the first participating states: Maryland, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

* The APRN Compact offers states the mechanism for mutually recognizing APRN licenses/authority to practice.

Since 1998, the compact has included registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical or vocational nurses (LPN/VNs). On August 16, 2002, the NCSBN Delegate Assembly approved the adoption of model language for a licensure compact for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Only those states that have adopted the RN and LPN/VN Nurse Licensure Compact may implement a compact for APRNs. On March 15, 2004, Utah was the first state to pass APRN Compact legislation. On April 25, 2005, the states of Iowa and Utah agreed to mutually recognize APRN licenses. No date has been set for the implementation of the APRN Compact.

The Board of Nursing in Colorado has allowed a year to organize and finalize the implementation of the Compact licensure to be in July 2007. Here is their link summarizing the signing of this bill and the brief copy of the notation:

Colorado Board of Nursing

Colorado Approves Creation of Nurse Compact

On May 22, 2006, the state legislature passed Senate Bill 06-020, which allows the state Board of Nursing to enter into a multi-state nurse licensure compact. The bill establishes relationships between participating states in the areas of jurisdiction, discipline, and information sharing. Governor Owens signed the bill on June 2, 2006.

Since many program rules and processes must be created, the legislation allows for a one-year implementation period. We anticipate that Colorado's nurse licensure compact will be approved and in place by July 1, 2007. Please check back on this web page for updates over the coming year.

More information about the Nurse Licensure Compact is available on the website of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) at http://www.ncsbn.org/nlc/index.asp.

Here is a list and the link at the NCSBN for those states who are participating or are pending to participate in Campact Nurse Licensure:

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

COMPACT STATESIMPLEMENTATION DATE

Arizona7/1/2002

Arkansas7/1/2000

Delaware7/1/2000

Idaho7/1/2001

Iowa7/1/2000

Maine7/1/2001

Maryland7/1/1999

Mississippi7/1/2001

Nebraska1/1/2001

New Hampshire1/1/2006

New Mexico1/1/2004

North Carolina 7/1/2000

North Dakota1/1/2004

South Carolina2/1/2006

South Dakota1/1/2001

Tennessee7/1/2003

Texas1/1/2000

Utah1/1/2000

Virginia1/1/2005

Wisconsin1/1/2000

If you are seeking Compact licensure, please contact your state board of nursing for primary state of residence requirements. For state board of nursing contact information, please click here.

Compact States Pending Implementation

PENDING COMPACT STATESSTATUS

ColoradoSigned by Governor

KentuckySigned by Governor

New JerseySigned by Governor

As a Travel Nurse, I am looking forward to the Nurse Compact Licensure. I currently have an RN licensure in New Mexico; I did see a substantial rate increase with the renewal of that license because of the Compact Agreement when I renewed a couple of years ago. Regardless of the renewal increase, I consider the compact agreement a big advantage for me as several neighboring states (AZ, UT, & NE) are on the Compact State list. Travel Nursing has become so flexible you can, with a little flexibility and research, work a four week assignment in various settings and facilities.

I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions regarding this important change in Colorado Nursing.

[reba95]

As a hopeful nursing student come this time next year, as well as a current employee of a travel healthcare staffing company for almost 4 years, I can say this is going to be a very welcome development (at least from a traveler's standpoint).

From a new grad's standpoint, there is a pro side to this and a con side to this with respect to new grads in the state of CO.

This will be advantageous to a new CO Nursing grad as this will open a lot of vistas for them with respect to employment across the country not only in terms of travel (although new grads aren't the majority of the travel pool) as well as relocation closer to home (the imports far outweigh the exports in Colorado).

The con side may be two-fold: ties in with the point above. Nursing grads may not be as inclined to stay within the state which would be counter to matriculating them in the first place. Another potential downside is an influx of travelers into the state may decrease job opportunity in certain areas (particularly urban areas) and specialties.

It will be interesting to see how the hiring practices of Colorado hospitals and health systems adjusts to this development as well. Will they continue to recruit heavily from Colorado based nursing schools as they do now? Will they branch out to other schools under the compact umbrella and recruit there? Will they rely more heavily on traveler's given their (now greater) availability and stronger skill sets?

Time will tell I suppose..

[nightingale, RN]

I can't wait to see how it will impact the shortage and advantages for Nurses and Travel Nurses.