SUBTITLE 7A. NURSE MULTISTATE LICENSURE COMPACT.

8-7A-01.

THE NURSE MULTISTATE LICENSURE COMPACT IS HEREBY ENACTED AND
ENTERED INTO WITH ALL OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT LEGALLY JOIN IN THE
COMPACT IN THE FORM SUBSTANTIALLY AS THE COMPACT APPEARS IN THIS
SECTION AS FOLLOWS:

ARTICLE I. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

1.

THE PARTY STATES TO THIS COMPACT FIND THAT:

(A) THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC ARE AFFECTED BY THE DEGREE
OF COMPLIANCE WITH AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
RELATED TO STATE NURSE LICENSING LAWS;

(B) VIOLATIONS OF NURSE LICENSURE AND OTHER LAWS RELATING TO THE
PRACTICE OF NURSING MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR HARM TO THE PUBLIC;

(C) THE EXPANDED MOBILITY OF NURSES AND THE USE OF ADVANCED
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AS PART OF OUR NATION'S HEALTH CARE
DELIVERY SYSTEM REQUIRE GREATER COORDINATION AND COOPERATION AMONG
STATES IN THE AREAS OF NURSE LICENSING AND REGULATION;

(D) NEW PRACTICE MODALITIES AND TECHNOLOGY MAKE COMPLIANCE WITH
INDIVIDUAL STATE NURSE LICENSING LAWS DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX; AND

(E) THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF DUPLICATIVE LICENSURE FOR NURSES
PRACTICING IN MULTIPLE STATES IS CUMBERSOME AND REDUNDANT TO BOTH
NURSES AND THE STATES.  

2.

THE GENERAL PURPOSES OF THIS COMPACT ARE TO:

(A) FACILITATE THE STATES' RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC;

(B) ENSURE AND ENCOURAGE THE COOPERATION OF PARTY STATES IN THE
AREAS OF NURSE LICENSING AND REGULATION;

(C) FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN PARTY STATES
IN THE AREAS OF NURSE REGULATION, INVESTIGATION, AND ADVERSE ACTIONS;

(D) PROMOTE COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF
NURSING IN EACH JURISDICTION; AND

(E) AUTHORIZE THE PARTY STATES TO HOLD A NURSE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
MEETING ALL NURSE PRACTICE LAWS IN THE STATE IN WHICH THE PATIENT IS
LOCATED AT THE TIME THAT CARE WAS RENDERED THROUGH THE MUTUAL
RECOGNITION OF PARTY STATE LICENSES.