Legal to practice in FLA?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 25, 2014

Did you try contacting FLBoN? Some states offer temporary practice permits. Are you going with your agency's blessing ?

caliotter3 · Jul 25, 2014

When travel to Hawaii (another state) and overseas was discussed with one of my patients, the topic of validity of my license was never brought up, but I would have been traveling under the employ of my agency. I would contact both nursing boards to be certain.

SDALPN · Jul 25, 2014

You can only practice nursing in the states (s) you ate licensed in. I'm in a compact state, so I can practice in other compact states. I don't think PA or FL are compact states if I remember right. So you would be practicing nursing without a license in those states. You can apply for a temp license or contact the board and see if they have other options. Also the scope of practice may differ. So just because one state allows you to do a skill, doesn't mean the other will. When I've traveled through a non compact state, I've had to let the parents do the care. Also, you should make sure your agency is aware. Usually the family must pay the agency and not you directly. Most agencies make you sign something saying that.

Overall, from the sounds of things, you should decline to do it unless they pay the agency and the agency is aware and you are licensed in the state you are providing care.

SDALPN · Jul 25, 2014

Oh, and if the trip is make a wish or some other program, Disney provides a PDN with some programs. You could suggest that to the parent as an alternative. They are clearly comfortable with you. But you could assure them that the staff at Disney are licensed, educated nurses as well.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 25, 2014

Make-a-wish in my area covers the cost of PDN so the child/family can bring 1-2 familiar nurses to provide care. One recently went to the Caribbean and it was a non-issue because nurses were not licensed in the country. Another went to Disneyland and MAW helped expedite temporary practice permits for the two nurses for their 7 day trip. The PDN agency assisted with some of the documentation.

We had a patient wanting to take a PDN to MA from NJ (neither are compact states) the agency has offices in both states and were able to confirm legalities of practice with MA BoN for the short trip though the family decided against bringing nursing as other qualified family members would meet them in MA to assist with nursing and child care.

If your agency is aware and "permitting" you to accompany the family someone in regulatory affairs should be able to help you with obtaining a temporary practice permit if available Otherwise contact FL BoN.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 25, 2014

I looked at FL BoN, it's illegal to practice nursing without a FL license. The only temp practice permits are for military or military spouses. You need to get a FL nursing license by endorsement if you want to practice nursing in the state of FL even if for a short period of time

If your agency isn't aware that the family is taking you with them it could cause major issues as likely both you and the family agrees to not directly contract for services as part of the agreement. You could lose your job. And if the agency is aware that you are accompanying the family to practice nursing in FL without a FL nursing license, they are likely to report you to FL BoN as practicing nursing in FL without a license.

We had a family taking a trip to FL but no one on the case had a FL license so the FL branch of the agency had a FL nurse orient to the case and provide care to the patient in FL for the week that they were there.

SDALPN · Jul 25, 2014

We really need more compact states. And it would be nice if the states would recognize each other for temporary situations. What if Florida were to be hit with a massive hurricane and they needed outside help? I think its a problem that extends beyond just the need that parents have for vacation. I know FL is strict with their scope of practice compared to other states. And when FL nurses come to my state, they need lots of training because my state has a larger scope of practice and includes it in our education.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 25, 2014

I know for a fact there are emergency reciprocity provisions and they were enacted post disaster in the past few years. In NY,NJ,LA,FL,MS, PA and other states (at least 4 are not compact states). They don't extend to family vacations but have been enacted in times of natural (or unnatural) disaster. For example a nurse working with Salvation Army or Red Cross disaster service units, in an urgent situation can be given reciprocity to practice nursing without a full endorsement while on assignment. Their license and background must have been pre-cleared and they must be existing on he roster before deployment.

NJ and NY recently looked into joining the NCL. The reason NJ BoN won't move forward is that not all states in the NCL require fingerprinting and full (state/federal) background checks. NCSBN/NLC committees are looking into that, after getting black-eyed by Charles Cullen, among others that is a sticking point with NJ BoN.

SDALPN · Jul 25, 2014

I know for a fact there are emergency reciprocity provisions and they were enacted post disaster in the past few years. In NY,NJ,LA,FL,MS, PA and other states (at least 4 are not compact states). They don't extend to family vacations but have been enacted in times of natural (or unnatural) disaster. For example a nurse working with Salvation Army or Red Cross disaster service units, in an urgent situation can be given reciprocity to practice nursing without a full endorsement while on assignment. Their license and background must have been pre-cleared and they must be existing on he roster before deployment.
NJ and NY recently looked into joining the NCL. The reason NJ BoN won't move forward is that not all states in the NCL require fingerprinting and full (state/federal) background checks. NCSBN/NLC committees are looking into that, after getting black-eyed by Charles Cullen, among others that is a sticking point with NJ BoN.

Great info! Thanks!