Nurses who practice across state lines and hold licenses in different states today are currently required to know the practice acts in each of those respective states. The interstate compact makes no change to this responsibility. The compact provides for shared jurisdiction and shared information . Shared jurisdiction is important in the event that a patient is harmed by a nurse who is licensed in a state different from the location of the patient. Under the compact, the patient does not have to travel to the state where the nurse is licensed in order to have recourse, as the article implied.
Shared information helps to protect the patient and the profession's reputation for integrity.
If and when there is evidence of incompetent or unethical practice, the interstate compact expedites sharing of such information among state boards of nursing, thereby helping to protect the public in an efficient manner. Presently, and under the interstate compact, official publicly available licensure information can be accessed. Collaboration with APRN professional organizations is currently occurring so that APRNs can enjoy the benefits of mutual recognition under a similar interstate compact. An educational workshop will be held June 28 in addition to the reference process for the HOD action during the ANA Convention in San Diego, CA, June 26-July 1.