Hi Gina,
It depends on whether a state is a compact state (a group of states in the US that have agreed to recognize each other's nursing licenses, allowing nurses to practice in multiple states without needing to obtain a separate license for each one). This is facilitated through the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which streamlines the licensing process and promotes mobility for nurses. There are 39 compact states, so organizations that provide triage across the country must be within the compact and offering services to other compact states. Oregon, where I work, is not in the compact. This is where things get tricky. For boarder cities like Portland, which is very close to Washington, we require certain nurses on our team to get dual license in Washington and Oregon. Patients calling us from other states are not able to receive telephonic or virtual nursing care from an Oregon nurse if they don't hold a license in the state where the patient is calling from. I hope that's helpful.
Anthony Mulholland, MN, RN, NE – BC
VP/CNO, Ambulatory Services
Oregon Health and Science University
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Anthony Mulholland
VP & Chief Nursing Officer, Ambulatory Services
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland OR
5034188564
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