Living on a border state has its benefits. For example, I live in Cincinnati, Ohio and I have an Ohio nursing license. I am 15 minutes after from healthcare facilities and possible employment in Indiana or Kentucky as a nurse. I am licensed only in Ohio as RN however I can obtain a RN license via endorsement in Indiana or Kentucky. However, I practice law in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Lots of nurses work in more than one state because of the diversity and benefits of geography, employers, and the economics. Nurses in Toledo, Ohio may also work in Detroit, Michigan. Nurses in Youngstown, Ohio may also work in Pennsylvania. Nurses in Ashland, Kentucky may also work in the Ironton, Ohio or West Virginia.
Not all states are part of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). See https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm
Kentucky is a compact state but Ohio and Indiana are not. Tennessee is a compact state. West Virginia isn't a compact state and neither is Pennsylvania or Michigan. See https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm
Do your own due diligence to determine if you need a nursing license in state before accepting and starting employment in a neighboring state. DO NOT rely on the assertions of your employer, meaning your nurse manager, nursing colleagues, HR, etc.
Always err on the side of caution and consider obtaining a license BEFORE you work in a healthcare related position in a neighboring state.
If not, you as a LPN, RN, or APRN may find that you are being investigated by the State Nursing Board for practicing nursing without a license in the state, which in some states is also a crime. You talk about a headache, those cases are monsters and legal vampires that suck the life out of you (and your attorney) because of all the parties and state agencies involved especially when its a nurse who is licensed in one state and allegedly practicing in another state without a nursing license. (I watched Interview with a Vampire last night).
Its an added layer of federal and state laws, regs and a regimen of Motrin and Tylenol for me if the cases involves a APRN and prescriptive authority and scripts are involved.
Whether its a LPN, RN, or APRN with these particular allegations, everyone and their mother gets involved because of pubic protection and safety.
Remember its YOUR license and its your job to protect your license which is YOUR livelihood.
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