Introduction
In the last few years, the medical and healthcare industry has experienced a significant boom. Every vertical of this industry has seen sizable growth. Whether it has been the demand for doctors, diagnostic centers, or even nurses, all areas have seen an increase.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has ensured that governments and medical institutions have all woken up to the reality of the need for specialized medical practitioners. In this regard, understanding and knowledge about the nursing compact states become critical.
In this article, we are going to look at the following important attributes-
- Meaning and Definition of Nursing Compact States
- Benefits of being a Nurse in one of the Compact States
- Exceptions to the eNLC and what you need to know
- The Key Takeaways
Nursing Compact States: Meaning and Definition
The present eNLC was originally titled the Burses Licensure Compact or NLC. In simple words, it refers to the easy access and movement of nurses in different states of the American Union that have enacted the Compact Agreement.
Terms like the Nursing Compact or NLC or even the eNLC are often used interchangeably in the industry. The Nursing Compact agreement had been originally signed by 25 states. At present more than 35 states of the Union are part of the compact.
Additionally, ten other states have either enacted legislation and are pending execution or are in the process of formulating their legislation. States in the American Union have realized that there can be an increased demand for nurses because of certain natural and unnatural happenings. The recent COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point.
The Nursing Compact has allowed nurses to offer their essential services to institutions, care facilities, and other centers in different parts of the country. This has proven to be beneficial for medical institutions that can rest assured about the quality of the nurses.
What are some benefits of being a Nurse in a Compact State?
Originally, there were different licensure standards and agreements that would be required to be met, if a nurse was migrating to another state for one reason or another.
- Prevents the Retaking of Complicated Exams and Paperwork-
They would have to retake a set of exams, submit complex and detailed paperwork before they could get their license. If they planned to move to another state in the Union, they would have to redo the entire process all over again.
- Pursue Better Economic Opportunities in the Different States-
The Nursing Compact allows nurses to freely move and practice in any of the 35 states that recognize the Nursing License. Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses can take up better paying jobs or offer services in case of medical emergencies in states that require them.
- Great for Travel Nurses who work with Corporates-
Travel Nurses who move as part of companies or clients are the ones that stand to benefit the most from this. Having this multi-state exposure can allow them to improve their craft, seek better economic opportunities and develop better practices.
- Saves Time, Money, Energy, and Effort-
Applying for a license requires the payment of fees. If you have to do it three or four times over, you lose money, invest a lot of extra time, and run around for documentation and paperwork. Essentially, it is a time and money-consuming activity.
Exceptions to the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)
In most situations, if you have secured your nursing license in a state that is already part of the compact, your license is automatically a multi-state one.
However, if the state where you have secured the license from was not a part of the compact earlier, you most likely have an individual license. You do not need to worry.
All you need to do is go to the official Nursing Board website of the state and apply for a multi-state license. It is an easy, simple, and uncomplicated process. You should have your multi-state license in no time.
Nurses need to be aware that rich states like California and New York are not part of the Nursing Compact as of now. They might be in the future, but not right now. For nurses, these are the two most lucrative states financially, that pay the highest salaries.
The Bottom Line
With the medical industry set for massive growth rates in the next few years, it is important that you get your multi-state license. If you have any other questions, you would like us to answer on the nursing compact or how to check whether you are registered, let us know in the comments. We will be more than happy to help answer all of your queries.
