Background

Occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) and others in the nursing profession increasingly find it necessary to practice in more than one state. Advances in technology that allow more frequent, regular communication between practitioner and clients via telephone, e-mail, fax and teleconference contribute to the nursing profession's ever-widening boundaries.

AAOHN supports the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) — a mutual recognition model of nurse licensure that allows a nurse to have one license (in his or her state of residency) and to practice in other states (both physically and electronically), subject to each state's practice law and regulation. Under mutual recognition, a nurse may practice across state lines unless otherwise restricted.

In order to achieve mutual recognition, each state must enact legislation authorizing the NLC. States entering the compact also adopt administrative rules and regulations for implementation of the compact.

Once the compact is enacted, each compact state designates a Nurse Licensure Compact Administrator to facilitate the exchange of information between the states relating to compact nurse licensure and regulation. In January 2000, the Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (NLCA) were organized to protect public health and safety by promoting compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in each party state through the mutual recognition of party state licenses.

If your state has not adopted the NLC, contact AAOHN Executive Director, Ann Cox at ann@aaohn.org or (800) 241-8014 x117 to find out how you can be an advocate. The links above provide current, useful information that can be shared with other members and state policy makers.