CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Apr 28, 2016) - A diverse group of nurses, nurse executives and policy leaders met April 8, 2016, in Washington, D.C., at "Unlocking Access to Nursing Care Across the Nation," a forum to discuss nurse licensure portability and how changes to the NLC enhance patient access to the vital care that nurses provide across the country. The webcast of that event is now available for streaming free of charge on the NCSBN website at https://www.ncsbn.org/9160.htm.
Panelists from the Mayo Clinic, the military, a telehealth company, a dialysis company, the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and the Texas Board of Nursing shared experiences about barriers to easily accessing to nursing care and how the NLC provides a 21st century licensing solution to these issues.
A keynote presentation by Florida State Rep. Cary Pigman, MD addressed how his work as an ER doctor gave him an insider's view of the importance of the NLC and spurred him to champion the bill that enabled Florida to join the compact.
Allowing nurses to have mobility across state borders, the enhanced NLC increases access to care while maintaining public protection. The enhanced NLC, which is an updated version of the current Nurse Licensure Compact, allows for registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) to have one multistate license, with the ability to practice in both their home state and other NLC states. There are currently 25 states in the NLC.
Patient safety being of paramount importance led to the addition of new features found in the provisions of the legislation of the enhanced NLC. Licensing standards are aligned in enhanced NLC states so all nurses applying for a multistate license are required to meet the same standards, which include a federal and state criminal background check that will be conducted for all applicants for licensure.
The enhanced NLC enables nurses to provide telehealth nursing services to patients located across the country without having to obtain additional licenses. In the event of a disaster, nurses from multiple states can easily respond to supply vital services. Additionally, almost every nurse, including primary care nurses, case managers, transport nurses, school and hospice nurses, among many others, needs to routinely cross state boundaries to provide the public with access to nursing services, and a multistate license facilitates this process.
Boards of nursing (BONs) were the first health care provider regulatory bodies to develop a model for interstate practice with the original adoption of the NLC in 1997 and its implementation in 2000. While other health care provider regulatory bodies are just getting started in this process, the NLC has been operational and successful for more than 15 years.
To learn more about the NLC, view "The Nurse Licensure Compact Explained" at https://www.ncsbn.org/364.htm. Additional information about the NLC can be found at www.nursecompact.org.
About NCSBN
Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 24 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.
NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 4.5 million licensed nurses.
Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.
The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
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