Travel nursing after monitoring, and compact states

chare · Jun 28, 2017

I'm hoping to get into ER travel nursing after I'm done with my monitoring program. I'm in TPAPN in Texas. Will I have trouble practicing in other states due to my past participation in monitoring or my substance use history? If I go only to other Compact states, can I work under my Texas nursing license, or do I have to apply to their nursing boards even if they're also a Compact state? I know there are like 26 Compact states right now so I could just stick to accepting only contracts in those states if I have to. I'm not sure I understand the procedure to work in another Compact state. Do I have to apply with their nursing board at all or does my Texas license allow me to work in any Compact state without doing anything special?
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The Nursing License Compact (NLC) works similar to a driver's license. As long as you maintain residency in the state in which you maintain a NLC license with multi-state privileges, you can work in any of the other NLC states on that license. As residency is a requirement for a multi-state license, If/when you relocate, with a change of residency, what happens to your NLC multi-state license depends on which state you move to. If you move to a non-MLC state, then your original license remains active as a single state license, allowing you to practice in that state only. If you move to another NLC state and apply for licensure, then your original NLC license will allow you to work for either 30 or 90 days, depending upon which state you have moved to. After this temporary period ends, your original NLC multi-state license becomes inactive as you can only hold one NLC multi-state license at a time.

Currently, there are 24 participating states in the Original Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has drafted the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC). The eNLC has been enacted by 24 states, and will become effective when enacted by 26 states. Of the 24 states in which the eNLC has been enacted, three (FL, GA, & WV) were not members of the NLC. Legislation is pending in four states (DE, MA, NC, & NJ), two of which would be new participants to the eNLC (MA & NJ). From what I have been able to determine, one of the major changes with the eNLC is the adoption of 11 Uniform Licensure Requirements in an attempt to address the concerns raised by individual state BONs.

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I've read here on the forums recently that transferring a license can get tricky because some states flat out ask about past issues with alcohol or substance abuse and treatment. I've not been disciplined by the board, no stipulations show on my license and everything I've been told is that TPAPN is totally confidential and "off the record" assuming successful completion.
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If you are working in NLC states only, then this shouldn't be a problem. If you are applying for new licensure in another state, it might be problematic; however, I would read the application closely and not volunteer any information not specifically asked. I recently applied for licensure in two states, and reactivated licensure in two additional states. All of them asked criminal convictions, or current criminal proceedings, and whether I had a substance abuse problem that would impact my ability to function safely as a nurse, but none asked about successfully completing any treatment program. And while participation in an alternative program is addressed in the 11 Uniform Licensure Requirements, it only addresses current participation and the need to self-disclose.

Best wishes as you move forward in your career.