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?
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.
Sorry to say but it is a widespread popular issue. 20 states are in the compact with many other states with some form of legislation.
If there were a national license each state would benefit. The money's collected could be distributed evenlly to each state.. The small state population wise. i.e. Alaska might benefit. The Alaskan license cost $375 without verification fees. Nursys cost's $30 if your license is in the Nursys system. So that's $405.
Not having a national license is actually hurting the nursing shortage in some states.
Both FL and LA have seriously considered compact since the hurricaines when they couldn't get nurses in those servere emergencies.
Texas is a large state. No income tax and they are compact.
A compact state doesn't lose revenue unless the nurse moves to another compact or to a non compact state.
TN has no income tax and it's compact.
NV is considering it again.
Please read the compact licensure papers at : www.ncsbn.org
P.S. This doesn't effect Federal Facilities. You can work in any Federal Facility on your own state license. So in effect your license is a national license to the Federal Government already.
From a Maniah.. Welcome to the compact..What took you guys so long..
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...
I think we were so slow to join because we were too busy tipping cows or something.:chuckle Actually we are trying to make things move a little quicker at the NH- BON lately. Wish us luck, we are going to need it.
I think we were so slow to join because we were too busy tipping cows or something.:chuckle Actually we are trying to make things move a little quicker at the NH- BON lately. Wish us luck, we are going to need it.
As a traveler I love the compact license.. Now if we could get them all in line eh?????????
Okay, showing my ignorance here, but I haven't actually started my nursing education yet, so cut me a break! But...what is a Compact? Is it basically an interstate agreement? If so, does anybody know if Oklahoma has this? I have a lot of teacher friends so I know that Texas & Oklahoma have a coop agreement for teachers that if you're licensed in one you can teach in the other as well. Is that it?
Okay, showing my ignorance here, but I haven't actually started my nursing education yet, so cut me a break! But...what is a Compact? Is it basically an interstate agreement? If so, does anybody know if Oklahoma has this? I have a lot of teacher friends so I know that Texas & Oklahoma have a coop agreement for teachers that if you're licensed in one you can teach in the other as well. Is that it?
There are 20 states in the compact. If you live in one of them you can work in another compact state without getting a license for that state. i.e. I live in Maine and hold a Maine RN license,,it's my state of residence I can work in NH, it's in the compact now,, without getting a NH license.
I can't work in NV on my Maine license as NV is not in the compact. If I want to work in NV I have to fill out some forms, meet their requirements, pay some $$$ and then I have a NV license.
There are 20 states in the compact. If you live in one of them you can work in another compact state without getting a license for that state. i.e. I live in Maine and hold a Maine RN license,,it's my state of residence I can work in NH, it's in the compact now,, without getting a NH license.
I can't work in NV on my Maine license as NV is not in the compact. If I want to work in NV I have to fill out some forms, meet their requirements, pay some $$$ and then I have a NV license.
Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.
wow.. are you in favor of having a driver's license in every state.
actually i would like the drivers licenses to be valid in all fifty states as well. that was also an unnecessary hassel that just put $$$ in somebodies pocket. )
i had not heard of compact states. it seems like a good idea. i still have a lot to learn as originally i had not planned on ever moving but life changes.
wow.. are you in favor of having a driver's license in every state.
actually i would like the drivers licenses to be valid in all fifty states as well. that was also an unnecessary hassel that just put $$$ in somebodies pocket. )
i had not heard of compact states. it seems like a good idea. i still have a lot to learn as originally i had not planned on ever moving but life changes.
actually your driver's license is good in all fity states right up until you make your new state your state of residence.
your nursing license isn't though unless you have a compact license and are working in a compact state. also, a driver's license is much easier to get and quicker than most nursing licenses.
fl and la found that out in their recent diasters. nurses wanted to help from other states as many of fl and la's nurses had been displaced.
none of us could as neither fl or la is a compact state. the state governments and the bon's had to make emergency laws and waive complicated forms and jumping through hoops to get the necessary help.
that's is just one of the perks of the compact.
if you want to know more here's the link.. www.ncsbn.org
You could bring this up to your Baord of Nursing and get them to join the Compact.
But remember that the compact license that you hold is only valid if you continue to keep a legal residence in your home state. If you actually move to the other state, then it becomes void, at least the compact part of it.
But remember that the compact license that you hold is only valid if you continue to keep a legal residence in your home state. If you actually move to the other state, then it becomes void, at least the compact part of it.
That's why you tend to move to compact states. Or you make sure it's a permenent move.
You do have 20 states to choose from and some of them are pretty nice.
NephroBSN, BSN, RN
530 Posts
Sorry to say but it is a widespread popular issue. 20 states are in the compact with many other states with some form of legislation.
If there were a national license each state would benefit. The money's collected could be distributed evenlly to each state.. The small state population wise. i.e. Alaska might benefit. The Alaskan license cost $375 without verification fees. Nursys cost's $30 if your license is in the Nursys system. So that's $405.
Not having a national license is actually hurting the nursing shortage in some states.
Both FL and LA have seriously considered compact since the hurricaines when they couldn't get nurses in those servere emergencies.
Texas is a large state. No income tax and they are compact.
A compact state doesn't lose revenue unless the nurse moves to another compact or to a non compact state.
TN has no income tax and it's compact.
NV is considering it again.
Please read the compact licensure papers at : www.ncsbn.org
P.S. This doesn't effect Federal Facilities. You can work in any Federal Facility on your own state license. So in effect your license is a national license to the Federal Government already.