How Arizona's new reciprocity police force affects nurses

Sara Gentzler | Apr eleven, 2019 | Arizona

On Wednesday, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed HB 2569 into law. The new law establishes reciprocity for occupational and professional license or certificate holders who come to Arizona from out-of-land.

In a printing release, Ducey celebrated the police force as the first of its kind in the nation and mentioned nursing among the occupations in this quote:

"There'due south dignity in all work," said Governor Ducey. "And nosotros know that whether you brand your living as a plumber, a hairdresser, a nurse or anything else, you don't lose your skills simply because you lot moved here. The pecker nosotros signed today protects public wellness and prophylactic while eliminating unnecessary and plush red tape."

In the below interview, Robin Schaeffer, Executive Manager of the Arizona Nurses Clan, clarifies what the nib means for nurses in Arizona.

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Robin Schaeffer: Here's how it applies to nursing: It really doesn't change much for the states.

The new police force has a list of exemptions and an interstate meaty is one of those exemptions. Arizona is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, an interstate understanding to recognize each other's licensees. It was adult past the National Quango of Country Boards of Nursing to facilitate interstate practice and regulation. Arizona is one of 31 meaty states and 8 more states are exploring similar legislation. So, any of those nurses coming in from any of the compact states already get what's like to reciprocity: They tin work over state lines; and, when they decide to become a resident of Arizona, well-nigh of the work to secure an Arizona-based nursing license is already done.

The nurses who enter our country from a non-compact state will get through the same criteria that we have correct at present for nursing.

Nosotros're supportive of the bill the governor signed; however, it doesn't really change much for the nursing profession.

Sara Gentzler: Is there whatever situation in which it will brand the procedure easier for a nurse in Arizona?

RS: It's pretty much the aforementioned. Nursing, is forrad-facing to the public and committed to patient safe and therefore has e'er been highly regulated. Well-nigh states require the aforementioned criteria for initial licensure and re-licensure that Arizona requires. For example, there'due south only ane national exam and each land requires nurses to pass that exam before being licensed. The nursing lath in Arizona already has a fast turnaround mechanism in place if someone needs to come in and get a temporary license. Nosotros've made certain that — if in that location was a state of affairs like a Hurricane Katrina and it was in Arizona, that required more nurses to deliver emergency care — nosotros could issue temporary licenses to nurses from non-meaty states, quickly.

SG: I picked out nursing because the governor mentioned it, briefly, in a press release quote. He didn't necessarily imply that things would change for nurses, but it made me curious.

RS: I am pleased that the governor mentioned nurses in his press release. I call back what's satisfying and good, when you delve more than into the profession of nursing, is that we take processes that cover various situations.

And the office that facilitates endorsement and reciprocity, maybe on a fast rail when there's a reason for it, in that location's already a process in place for that. Again, nosotros support the concept of this police force. I but happen to be function of a profession that already has a style to transfer a license or receive a temporary license through a comprehensive process.

SG: Information technology sounds, then, like this might be more of a law that fills in the gaps for occupations that aren't and then heavily regulated — but that it doesn't quite touch nursing the way it does others.

RS: That would be fair. Especially because we take and then many states in the meaty, and more in the queue hopefully passing legislation for it.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.