Those who work in the healthcare field, whether allied healthcare workers or nurses, including registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), know that they are critical factors in changing and bettering the lives of many. However, with the millions of people living in the states and the diminishing number of nurses, it can be pretty challenging to accommodate every healthcare facility, needing staff. This is why today, nurses who travel as travel nurses or those who choose to work PRN jobs are crucial to today's healthcare system. However, going from state to state can be pretty challenging as states typically have licenses for nurses if they wish to work in that designated location. This is where the incredible benefit of a compact nursing license comes into play, and here you can learn all about the 2022 nurse licensure compact.
History of the Nurse Licensure Compact
Years ago, in 2000, the first nurse licensure compact was introduced to the world as one of the many solutions created to combat nursing shortages all over the states. This solution allows nurses to travel the U.S. without being required to earn a specific license for each state that is part of the compact. Critical then, it still plays a significant role in today's healthcare as the COVID-19 pandemic has recently amplified the nursing shortages. Contributing to helping with providing healthcare for everyone in need by removing restrictions for nurses across states, a great amount of the states have joined in on the compact, with many still joining.
What is a Compact Nursing License?
As previously noted, the nursing licensure compact allows nurses to travel to the states without the hassle of obtaining a nursing license for each separate state, removing the restrictions and allowing nurses to transit and provide care to many with ease. Not only does this benefit nurses who travel, but it also removes the limits on nurses who wish to provide telehealth across the U.S. Although there are a few requirements to apply to obtain a compact nursing license alongside meeting the requirements in your state of residency, obtaining this license will benefit you more than imaginable.
What is the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact?
Beginning as Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), now deemed as the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC), this compact is the solution to end all other solutions on how to benefit nurses who wish to work in various states. The NLC is, as mentioned previously, the very first to ever be introduced in 2000, and it has grown across the states since then. In 2015 the licensure compact had a whopping 25 states on the project. However, missing some standards for licensure, the compact transformed into the eNLC in 2018, furthering the growth of the licensure compact to even more states while it continues to grow today.
Which States are part of the Nursing Licensure Compact?
As of the time of writing this, there are currently 35 U.S. states that have passed eNLC legislation and are officially part of the nursing licensure compact. This includes:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- South Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Additionally, two U.S. territories have passed legislation, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, the Virgin Islands are awaiting the implementation of the compact, and Guam has only been partially implemented.
What are the Most Recent States to Join the Nursing Licensure Compact?
Along with the 37 locations currently confirmed to be involved in the eNLC, two states have enacted the NLC and are awaiting implementation: Ohio and Pennsylvania. In addition to the two, a few states are awaiting NLC legislation, Michigan, Illinois, and New York. These new additions to the compact, along with those awaiting legislation, are fantastic news for the compact and nurses all over, as this will further remove restrictions from many; the goal of the eNLC, after all, is to pair up as many of the states and U.S. territories as possible.
How to find PRN Nursing Jobs Near You
Upon obtaining licensure in the eNLC, it's a given that you'll want to enjoy the benefit of no longer needing to get a license in each state that is part of the compact if you choose to pick up a job there. However, traveling the states to work means you'll first be required to locate jobs.
Although joining travel nurses in their adventures is also a fantastic option, those looking to work PRN with a compact nursing license are in the correct place. At Nursa, we host an on-demand PRN healthcare staffing app for not only nurses but healthcare workers of all professions, even allied workers. If you have or are looking to get involved in the nursing licensure compact and wish to work PRN, sign up for an account with us today, and you'll be off finding jobs in minutes!
