Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #122051

Kathy Apple, RN, MS, CAE, Executive Director, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 111. East Wacker Drive, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60601-4277, 312.525.3610, kapple@ncsbn.org

The Nurse Licensure Compact is the new model for nurse licensing in the United States. After 100 years of individual state licensure, boards of nursing unanimously adopted the mutual recognition model of licensure to meet the healthcare needs of the future. Based on the same concept of driver's licenses, one license is issued by the state in which the nurse resides which then allows the nurse to practice across state lines in all participating states. The model is intended to increase access to safe and competent nurses through a state based license that is nationally recognized and locally enforced. The model also simplifies governmental processes and removes regulatory barriers to increase access to safe nursing care.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the development and application of the Nurse Licensure Compact model and its implications for public health emergency preparedness and response.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.