New VA hire- RN License Question

[fyijj02]

Hello,

I am licensed in NM currently but will be moving to OR for my new job. Does anyone have any experience moving to another state for VA job and having to apply for license? Any advice appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

One can work in a federal government nursing position with a license from ANY state, don't need to obtain a new states license; however, a multistate license would be changed to single state status upon no longer maintaining residency in NM.

See:
Federal, Veterans Administration, Military and Indian Health Services Nurses

Quote

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows a nurse (registered nurses [RNs] and licensed practical/vocational nurses [LPN/VNs]) to have one multistate license in the primary state of residence (the home state) and to practice in other compact states (remote states), while subject to each state's practice laws. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are not included in the NLC.

Based on federal supremacy, nurses in this category are exempt from licensure in the state of practice when they hold an active nurse license in any state. This exemption does not apply when a nurse is practicing in a civilian facility in a non-federal role. In this case, the nurse will need to hold appropriate licensure in the state to practice.

Although federal supremacy exempts a nurse from holding a license in the state of practice when they hold an active nurse license in any state, this pertains to a single state license. If a nurse in this category wishes to hold a multistate license, the nurse must have legal residency in an NLC state. Such nurses may utilize military form 2058 as proof of legal residency. This residency requirement only pertains to the multistate license and not to the single state license. A nurse working in a remote NLC state in federal/military facility may practice on single state license issued by the remote NLC state and is not required to obtain a multistate license from the home NLC state.

A nurse employed by the federal government holding a multistate license in the primary state of residence shall not hold an additional single state license in any remote NLC state. This is because the multistate license provides the authority for the nurse to practice in all NLC states.

Good Luck with your new job.

[Arr-tistRN]

As stated in the comment above, federal trumps state. I had a Massachusetts lisence working in Washington for the VA, just keep it current. Also, Oregon is non compact so has less mobility. The NM lisence can be used in the 32 other compact states should you leave the federal govt.