Pennsylvania Compact State??

[nowdistracted]

Last time I looked into this there had not been any updates since I believe 2009 or something like that. How can we find out infomation on this or how to go about trying to have it submited into house for vote??? Last time I believe they refused it stating there was a large need for it and that only 4% of nurses from Pa worked in other states, becoming compact would cause more issues with difference in what is required by Pa verse other states and felt it would cause lower quality nurses?? Nurses without proper continued education/training, increase possibility to be at risk for multi investigations?? Does anyone have any updates or have any thoughts to add on this issue??? For me my husband travels for work and most of the states he goes too are compact states...so Pa jumping on board would be a blessing for me. Now to have to try to figure out where to start to get each state license and pay hundreds of dollars each time then the additional cost of renewals is just overwhelming.

[klone, MSN, RN]

It seems that a lot of the states in the NE are not in the compact

Nursing Licensure Compact

[elkpark]

PA is not a member of the NLC and I'm not aware of any plans to join. Each state makes its own decision about this.

[Swellz]

I would not hold your breath on PA becoming compact. When we started looking at houses, I only looked in compact states because I wanted the flexibility for travel nursing. When I was based in PA, all of my other licenses were compact, which was incredibly frustrating.

[Epidural, BSN, RN]

The first place to check for information on whether on not Pennsylvania has an eNLC bill is www.ncsbn.org Then try the Pennsylvania State Board Of Nursing website. Also, look for information on the Pennsylvania State Nurses' Association website. Rebecca Fotsch (at the National Council Of The State Board Of Nursing) is one of the main people in charge of arranging for lobbyists to work with state legislators to get a nurse compact licensure bill passed. I have NEVER seen any information about the Pennsylvania BON supporting the compact. I have also never seen any information that they oppose the compact.

Many states are now actively pursuing compact status. 31 states are members of the nurse compact, and about 10 more should join within the next two years. I would write letters to the president of the Pennsylvania BON, and to members of your state legislature who seem to support health related bills. The more letters they receive, the more they will realize that we nurses really want the compact in every single one of our states.

Currently the states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and Michigan all have active eNLC bills. The states of Vermont, New York, Indiana, Alaska, Nevada, Hawaii, California, and Washington all have groups who are actively pushing for eNLC bills in their state legislatures. All 50 states will eventually join the compact ; Pennsylvania would be a welcome addition to the ever expanding nurse licensure compact.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Compact license is only good if you LIVE in the state of initial compact license and work in another state that is also a member of the compact.

Once one PERMANENTLY MOVES to a different state, you need to obtain that states license.

I've been involved in helping to pass changes in PA Nurse Practice Act over the years ---average is 4-6 years from getting a legislator to introduce a bill, to getting through PA House committees, PA legislature approval and governors signature. PA still has a very conservative legislature and medical mindset. Nursing schools produce more nursing graduates than starting positions available, so there is minimal interest in compact license.

[Epidural, BSN, RN]

Hi Karen,

Thanks for the update. I was wondering about Pennsylvania, since most of the other states are either in the nurse-compact or working to get legislation passed. A few state nursing boards openly oppose compact licensure (Ohio, Oregon, Alabama, and Rhode Island) for various reasons, but nurses in Pennsylvania and Connecticut have been pretty quiet about this issue.

I would like to invite Pennsylvania to join the nurse-compact. I have had a compact license for a decade now, and find that it makes my professional life much easier. In fact, the Colorado BON felt so strongly about keeping it's nurse-compact status, that it hired a marketing-lobbyist team to get the bill through the Colorado state legislature in just a few weeks. This plan worked; Colorado is now a member of the "new and improved" nurse-compact.

[Epidural, BSN, RN]

Pennsylvania has a brand new nurse-compact bill. ???

[nowdistracted]

Where can I find out more about this and how to help with it?

[Epidural, BSN, RN]

Hi,

The website: www.ncsbn.org has the most up to date and comprehensive information about the nurse-compact. The new bill is Pennsylvania SB655. The primary sponsor for this bill is Senator Lisa Boscola (18th Senatorial District). This bill has a lot of co-sponsors, so there are probably a few senators that you could contact.

[nowdistracted]

That's great I'd be happy to contact any one that will listen and help

[Epidural, BSN, RN]

Good Luck! I have had the most success with legislators who are health-care professionals. It is wonderful to see how many nurses are serving our country as congressmen and congresswomen.