Home health nurse accompanying pt’s to out of state appointments

DallasRN · Jul 18, 2022

I may be wrong and others will be quick to point it out, but my thought is absolutely not. If you were going along on the day trip to essentially baby sit...but what if something happens? You need to administer first aid? Resuscitate? And since they are paying for you to accompany the child I assume skilled services are needed. States require licenses for a reason and in my opinion, in absence of a multi-state license that would include the state you are traveling to you would not be covered to practice in another state. I would tread carefully with this one. Easiest thing would be to contact the Board in the state involved. Or, perhaps, have employer pay required fees for licensing in that particular state. And just a general FYI, many employers will tell you whatever it takes to maintain a client.

couchdogs · Jul 21, 2022

Your agency is not giving you accurate information that is in your best interest. If I were you, I would call your state licensing board to verify but in my experience, unless you have a compact license that covers that other state, you are not to practice nursing whatsoever unless it is an obvious emergency. I worked for a call center and we had to be very careful when people from out of state called with medical questions and concerns. Perhaps they were traveling on vacation or were snowbirds that lived out of state for part of the year, and we're calling their primary doctor or specialist for medical advice. We had to direct them to seek medical care locally due to state licensing restrictions. Do not let your agency bully you into doing this. If they will not assist you in getting licensed for that state, then the parents are responsible for taking that child to their out of state appointments by themselves.

DallasRN · Jul 21, 2022

5 hours ago, couchdogs said:

Your agency is not giving you accurate information that is in your best interest. If I were you, I would call your state licensing board to verify but in my experience, unless you have a compact license that covers that other state, you are not to practice nursing whatsoever unless it is an obvious emergency. I worked for a call center and we had to be very careful when people from out of state called with medical questions and concerns. Perhaps they were traveling on vacation or were snowbirds that lived out of state for part of the year, and we're calling their primary doctor or specialist for medical advice. We had to direct them to seek medical care locally due to state licensing restrictions. Do not let your agency bully you into doing this. If they will not assist you in getting licensed for that state, then the parents are responsible for taking that child to their out of state appointments by themselves.

Agree and good point. I also worked for a call center years back. The company spent many, many thousands of dollars licensing all of us in all states. And paying for our CEU's as they came due (except in our home state). That alone told me how important it was to be licensed in any state in which you provide care - telephonic or otherwise.

Local nurse · Jul 27, 2022

Thanks all. I told my clients I could only provide nursing care while within my state’s borders, but you brought up a great point with what if there’s an emergency? My agency gave me a really hard time about this as apparently their nurses have been doing this for some time. I’m sticking to my instincts and your great advice and saying no.

DallasRN · Jul 28, 2022

To clarify any issues with your employer and provide backup should any employment issues arise, I suggest you submit your questions and concerns to your State Board of Nursing. Our nursing license is one of the most valuable things we possess - even in those periods (we all have) when we would rather dig ditches on the side of the road! Best of luck!

chare · Jul 28, 2022

31 minutes ago, DallasRN said:

To clarify any issues with your employer and provide backup should any employment issues arise, I suggest you submit your questions and concerns to your State Board of Nursing. ...

As well as the board of nursing for any state you might be providing, or expected to provide, care in.

Best wishes.

Googlenurse, ASN, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2022

I never thought about it when the patients travelled to another state. It was only for an hour or two anyway. I just did what I had to do.

on that note…. Why isn’t this in the Private duty nurse forum?

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Jan 8, 2023

I do it all the time as we live within a few miles of another state and frequent big hospitals there. Since the client is from my state, it is OK to provide care while we are at an appointment or outing in the other city. Per my company that is. If I worked for a client from that state I would obviously need that license.

DallasRN · Jan 8, 2023

Elektra6 said:

I do it all the time as we live within a few miles of another state and frequent big hospitals there. Since the client is from my state, it is OK to provide care while we are at an appointment or outing in the other city. Per my company that is. If I worked for a client from that state I would obviously need that license.

Because you live within a few miles of another state does not make it OK to provide care in that state if you are not licensed to do so. Is it a compact state? Many are and you would then be covered. As others have stated, companies are not obligated to protect your license and will do whatever is needed to maintain a client. Do your own checking. You don't want to be guilty of practicing without a license - your nursing license is of great value.