That issue is being debated at nursing boards and associations across the country as the National Council of State Boards of Nursing works toward an interstate compact that it says would remove regulatory barriers and give patients better access to care. Internet access, interactive television, and the growth of telemedicine have spurred the need for a multi-state licensing system, said Tom Neumann, MSN, RN, president of the National Council, headquartered in Chicago. The new system would directly affect nurses who work at call centers operated by managed care organizations, flight nurses who fly from state to state, and nurses working near multiple state borders. People ask why are we doing this so fast and so soon.
People often aren t informed enough to know that they re practicing nursing.
Obtaining a license in every state where a nurse might practice can be costly and time-consuming. Imagine a telephone triage system that is providing services to 15 different states. The mutual recognition model means states participating in the compact would recognize each other s licenses. A nurse would obtain a license in his or her state of residency, but would be allowed to practice in any state participating in the compact. The National Council would establish a licensure information system so that if one state takes disciplinary action against a nurse, other states would have access to that information.