USA wide license Vs State to state issued licenses

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Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.

i have often wondered why nurses cannot be issued a national license to practice that will enable them to practice in all fifty states.

i have experienced the frustration of moving and having to wait for my new license to arrive in order to begin work. there were additional expenses in the new state that i did not expect.

i had to pay an additional licensing fee to that state's board of nursing,

and i learned that some states require their nurses to meet ceu requirements in their field of practice in order to renew their license.

currently not all states require a nurse to have a certain number of ceu credits in order to obtain a license or a renewal.

the additional monies required were a surprise to me, and the ceu courses were also another added expense that i had not expected. ((i was fortunate in that the place that i was employed did provide partial reimbursment for ceu course work.))

with the nusring shortage such a reality, why can't the usa issue a single license with a central database that would enable a nurse to practice anywhere in the united states that he or she may live or move?

also i wonder if joining a national nursing organization, such as the ana, would help give me a voice in improving and/or changing the current nursing issues such as staffing ratio's or mandatory overtime, etc?

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Hi Fire Wolf,

For the benefit of those of us with "over 40 vision" would you consider posting in a darker print and larger font? Sad to say, I really struggled to read your post :(

I have worked in 5 hospitals in 5 different states, so I have a fair amount of experience in endorsing licenses. I far prefer that to working within the confines of the nursing compact.

I firmly believe that each State should be able to set standards for nursing practice that meet the needs of its citizens, rather than adhere to standards set by other compact states.

For example, I am licensed in IL, but have been out of work for a period of time. In IL, I can work out an orientation agreement with an employer and return to practice. In a compact state, I must attend a BON approved refresher course before returning to work. That would cost approximately $1000, and take 3-4 months to complete. Furthermore, while the refresher meets the BON requirements, it would do almost nothing to prepare me to re-enter maternal-child health, while a specialized orientation would, and would enable me to "earn while I re-learn". As a nurse interested in re-entering practice, I have lobbied IL legislators NOT to join the compact, as I believe it discourages re-entry nurses.

This is one example of a nursing issue that I believe is best addressed locally, not by a national board, or even the compact states.

i have often wondered why nurses cannot be issued a national license to practice that will enable them to practice in all fifty states.

i have experienced the frustration of moving and having to wait for my new license to arrive in order to begin work. there were additional expenses in the new state that i did not expect.

i had to pay an additional licensing fee to that state's board of nursing,

and i learned that some states require their nurses to meet ceu requirements in their field of practice in order to renew their license.

currently not all states require a nurse to have a certain number of ceu credits in order to obtain a license or a renewal.

the additional monies required were a surprise to me, and the ceu courses were also another added expense that i had not expected. ((i was fortunate in that the place that i was employed did provide partial reimbursment for ceu course work.))

with the nusring shortage such a reality, why can't the usa issue a single license with a central database that would enable a nurse to practice anywhere in the united states that he or she may live or move?

also i wonder if joining a national nursing organization, such as the ana, would help give me a voice in improving and/or changing the current nursing issues such as staffing ratio's or mandatory overtime, etc?

i couldn't read it either. maybe we can read it now.

I agree it is easier to be licensed in compact states so you can work in each of them without getting new licensure. However, I can see where the states need SOME control in order to make sure each nurse is compliant with that states laws.

As for ANA, you can only have a voice if you join. I did not favor ANA's views on abortion & unions, but TNA does not promote ANA's views on those topics so I am more than content with my local chapter. As a TNA member I can submit a proposal for resolutions BY MYSELF, then submit it to the TNA House of Delegates for the State Delegation to vote on and get to the legislature. I find out about legislation and research and hot topics regarding nursing quickly thru email with TNA office in Austin. I recommend getting involved.

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

A national nursing license would prob be unconstitutional. Federal taking over the power of the steate. One reason KS isn't a compact state is that it was determined to be against the state consitution. You'd have to make one heck of a case for interstate comerce to warent a national license.

we have a nation-wide license in Canada, and although i haven't graduated yet, i've never heard anyone complain about it being nationwide. saves a lot of headaches in my opinion.

There is the belief out there that the hospitals are pushing this nationwide license, in order to make it easier to break strikes. Tricky, eh?

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I think the local accountability has a lot to be said for it. Just like local school boards or municiple government, and local police forces. Getting a mistake out of federal records would be a nightmare! Impaired nurses programs need to be local as well.

Being able to move about more easily would be nice, but I don't want to give up that much control to the Federal Government.

Just FYI, there are free online CEUs in quite a few places, such as Medscape.com. One year I got behind, and did all 30 through them. Also, there are correspndence courses I've taken, that the one workbook did 30 contact hours as well.

In NH we just signed in to the Nursing Compact. Any NH nurse can now also work in Maine and a few other states. Follow this link for more information.

http://www.nh.gov/nursing/docs/Compact_State.doc

You could bring this up to your Baord of Nursing and get them to join the Compact.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
A national nursing license would prob be unconstitutional. Federal taking over the power of the steate. One reason KS isn't a compact state is that it was determined to be against the state consitution. You'd have to make one heck of a case for interstate comerce

Agree with the above.

Even MDs with their serious bargaining power with the AMA, have to get licensed in separate states.

While I would love a national license, it is not likely that some states will want to give up their right to regulate the professions. And given politics, few politicians are going to want to tilt at that windmill. It is not a widespread popular issue, as most do not want their nurses to have an easy time moving away, given the shortage.

Another factor, you may note that states with no state income tax, frequently have higher fees to get licensed/write boards/certify NCLEX results. Obviously, states use this to recoupe what they don't get in taxes. Prime examples include Florida and Alaska.

A national nursing license would prob be unconstitutional. Federal taking over the power of the steate. One reason KS isn't a compact state is that it was determined to be against the state consitution. You'd have to make one heck of a case for interstate comerce to warent a national license.

Wow.. Are you in favor of having a driver's license in every state.

As for the discpline issue the "home' compact tracks that nurse. That nurse pays that state every year to keep his/her compact license intact. If the nurse makes a mistake in another state their "home" state is notified and deals with it. Have you read the compact statements.

You can read them here: http://www.ncsbn.org

There are 20 states in the compact now. Do you suppose almost half of the states can be wrong.

Even LA and FL waived their requirements after the hurricaines. Should we have to wait for a state to make those decisions on a case by case basis every time there is an emergency?

Some nurses have moved from one state to another that weren't compact and have to wait 6 months to be licensed. Is that fair????

In NH we just signed in to the Nursing Compact. Any NH nurse can now also work in Maine and a few other states. Follow this link for more information.

http://www.nh.gov/nursing/docs/Compact_State.doc

You could bring this up to your Baord of Nursing and get them to join the Compact.

From a Maniah.. Welcome to the compact..What took you guys so long..:lol2:

I might just mosey on over and work in your state now. 20 states now....

Wooo hoooo.. I "have' nine licenses getting tired of filling out those forms...:uhoh3:

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