CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - July 5, 2007) - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing
(NCSBN®)
www.ncsbn.org is pleased to announce that Rhode Island recently
passed legislation to join the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The state
will begin the rule writing process to work toward implementation of the
NLC in 2008.
The concept of the mutual recognition of nurse licensure is what the NLC
model is based upon, and the NLC seeks to simplify government processes and
remove regulatory barriers in order to increase access to safe nursing
care. NCSBN and its member boards of nursing arrived at this model in
response to the rapidly evolving health care environment, which includes
emerging practice modalities and technology (e.g., telenursing) for nurses
who practice across state lines both physically and electronically in a
variety of health care settings.
Currently, 22 other states have enacted the legislation allowing for
participation in the NLC. Other states in the Compact include: Arizona,
Arkansas, Colorado (planning to implement Oct. 1, 2007), Delaware, Idaho,
Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New
Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.
NCSBN developed the NLC with its member boards in 1997. Under the NLC,
nurses hold one license in their state of residency and are able to
practice in the other NLC states, provided that they follow the state's
nursing practice act for where the care is provided (similar to the drivers
license compact). All NLC states are required to participate in a
coordinated licensure database called Nursys that aids the NLC in the
advancement of its objective to enhance public protection through timely
and more complete information sharing.
Operationally, the NLC is administered by the Nurse Licensure Compact
Administrators (NLCA) who function as a separate, incorporated body made up
of the participating state-designated NLC administrators. NCSBN provides
secretariat services for the NLCA.
"One of the primary benefits of the NLC is that it provides the public with
access to quality nursing care by eliminating barriers created by
individual state licensing laws," comments Gloria Damgaard, MS, RN,
executive secretary, South Dakota Board of Nursing and chair of the NLCA.
In addition to the NLC, NCSBN also recognizes and supports the single state
licensure model.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) is a
not-for-profit organization whose membership comprises the boards of
nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S.
territories.
Mission: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), composed
of Member Boards, provides leadership to advance regulatory excellence for
public protection.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900
Chicago, IL 60601-4277
Contact Information: Contact:
Dawn M. Kappel
Director of Marketing and Communications
312.525.3667 direct
312.279.1034 fax