Update: New Jersey Compact Nursing License Passes, Governor Signs Off

Christina KrenekJuly 22, 20190 Views0

UPDATE: July 22, 2019

On Friday, July 19, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill approving state’s participation in the multi-state Nurse Licensure Compact, becoming the 34th state to join the eNLC. The implementation date is still to be determined.

The New Jersey State Nurses Association voiced their support for joining the compact in 2017 after additional requirements such as fingerprinting and background checks were included.

Healthcare Traveler Today will update this story as more details become available.

June 4, 2019

The New Jersey compact nursing license bill was passed with a final vote by the Assembly and is awaiting Gov. Phil Murphy’s signature of approval. If signed off by the governor, New Jersey will become the 34th state to join the NLC, which the Nurse Licensure Compact announced June 4, 2019.

It’s been a long journey for the state to get to these final steps to join the NLC. After a few years of attempts and facing opposition from various groups, the New Jersey senate passed the bill back in February 2019. The bill was approved by the New Jersey Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee May 21.

Senator Joseph F. Vitale, who is co-sponsoring the bill and acts as Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Chair, recently stated to InsiderNJ.com: “The enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact brings New Jersey into the 21st Century and prepares us for the social trends and medical advances of the future. Nurses are becoming more mobile with interstate relocations; communication technology is fostering widespread telemedicine; and if, God forbid, a disaster warrants an influx of nurses from one state to another, their expertise won’t be delayed by a Governor’s special order. Nurses will be pre-vetted to jump into action at will.”

Included in the bill is an evaluation clause. One year after joining the NLC, the Attorney General will be required to submit a report to the governor with the pros and cons, indicating whether the state’s continued participation in the compact remains in the best interest of the people.