STATEHOUSE (June 27, 2019) – State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) today joined Gov. Eric Holcomb at the Statehouse for the ceremonial signing of House Enrolled Act 1344.
HEA 1344, sponsored by Zay, will make Indiana a member of the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing qualified out of state nurses from other compact states to come practice in Indiana.
“The nation is currently experiencing a nursing shortage, and Indiana is no exception,” Zay said. “HEA 1344 will help address this shortage, especially in communities near Indiana’s borders where workers commute from out of state. I believe this effort helps ensure all Hoosiers have access to quality health care, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this legislation will have on our state and local communities.”
Participating nurses must comply with the nursing laws of the state in which they are providing services, and may only be licensed in one home state at a time to ensure proper oversight and nursing quality.
To obtain a multistate nursing license under the compact, a person must also meet certain requirements, including:
• Graduated, or is graduating, from a nurse education program that is approved by a state licensing board;
• Met the applicant’s home state qualifications for licensure or renewal;
• Passed National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX); and
• Holds no restrictions on the ability to practice nursing and is not under a monitoring program by any state licensing board.
Subject to approval by the compact commission, Indiana will be the 33rd state to join the compact, including three other states that enacted legislation to join this year.
HEA 1344 takes effect July 1.
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Click here for a high-resolution photo of Zay.
Contact: Rita Davison, Press Secretary
rita.davison@iga.in.gov
317-232-9425
