So, you've decided that you need or want to move your nursing practice into or out of Nevada, but you've discovered that Nevada does not participate in the National Nurse Licensure Compact. What are you to do? While Nevada's refusal to participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact may have complicated your effort at multistate nursing licensure, we can help you overcome your licensing issues triggered by your move. Nevada has other ways of supporting your licensure by reciprocity or endorsement. Don't give up on your move, and don't leave your licensing issues unresolved to complicate your license renewals or license applications in the future. Instead, retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team to help you resolve your licensing issues now. Call 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form to retain our skilled and experienced attorneys. Preserve and protect your nursing license.
Nurse Licensure Compact Operation
It is unfortunate that Nevada does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, when forty other states do participate, and reciprocal participation streamlines your state-to-state licensing application. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing promotes the Nurse Licensure Compact to facilitate nurse mobility across state lines. Efficient movement of nurses for practice increases the availability of nursing in times of staffing shortages. Nurse mobility also increases your opportunities to improve your nursing education, training, skills, network, reputation, employment, income, and benefits. Your mobility can also be critical to your family members' welfare, for their education, employment, health, and other welfare. Nurse Licensure Compact participation can also save nurses lost income during employment interruptions and save the costs, time, and effort of additional nursing education, training, and examination. Let us help you pursue the same goal and objectives without the benefit of the Nurse Licensure Compact, by invoking appropriate Nevada licensure by endorsement procedures.
Nevada Nurse Licensure Compact Legislation
Joining the Nurse Licensure Compact requires a state to adopt new nursing legislation. Nevada gives no indication that it is preparing to do so. Forty states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, leaving ten states, including Nevada, that do not participate. Of those ten states, six have bills pending in their state legislatures to access and implement the Nurse Licensure Compact. Those bills may or may not pass, but they at least give an indication of the continuing momentum toward nationwide Compact participation. California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania are the only other states in addition to Nevada that are not moving bills forward toward potential Compact implementation. So, don't wait for Nevada to get aboard. Instead, let us help you resolve your Nevada licensure by endorsement issues without the Compact's aid. Move forward.
Nevada Nurse Licensure Authority
To resolve your Nevada licensure by endorsement issues, we will need to help you deal with Nevada State Board of Nursing officials. Nevada's Nurse Practice Act establishes the Nevada State Board of Nursing to regulate nursing practice in the state. The Act's Section 632.120 expressly authorizes the State Board of Nursing to adopt regulations to license and deny licenses to nurses seeking to practice in the state. The State Board of Nursing has carried out that regulatory authority by promulgating extensive regulations. The Nevada Nurse Practice Act's Section 632.315 makes it unlawful to practice nursing in Nevada without a State Board of Nursing license, punishable by fine and incarceration as a Class C or Class D felony, depending on the presence or absence of patient injury. You simply cannot practice nursing in Nevada without making an appropriate arrangement with the State Board of Nursing, through licensure, expedited licensure, or temporary license pending completed application. Let us help you
Nevada Nurse Licensure Statutory Requirements
Section 632.140 of Nevada's Nurse Practice Act requires every applicant for nurse licensure to meet certain foundational requirements. Those requirements include an application to the State Board of Nursing with appropriate documentation and verification, a showing of your good moral character, a showing of your good mental and physical health, and your proof of the requisite nursing education. The following Section 632.150 states the additional licensing examination requirement. No matter how other reciprocity, endorsement, expedited, or temporary measures treat qualification requirements, sooner or later you will need to show the State Board of Nursing that you have met these basic requirements.
Nevada Nurse Licensure Regulatory Requirements
Nevada State Board of Nursing Rules 632.150 and 632.155 repeat and clarify these statutory licensing requirements. For instance, State Board of Nursing Rule 632.640 provides that Nevada is among the large number of states that require graduation from a nursing program that the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has approved. The Nevada State Board of Nursing also publishes interpretations clarifying licensure requirements, such as a circular indicating that the State Board requires the NCLEX examination to be accepted for nurse licensure in all other states. When already flagged for licensing issues, you must navigate this complex of statutes, rules, and interpretations to ensure that your application meets all requirements as the State Board of Nursing officials apply them. Our attorneys can help you do so, holding licensing officials accountable to their own regulatory scheme. Let us help you address and resolve your issues within the published statutes, rules, and interpretations.
Nursing Licensure in Other States
You may instead be leaving Nevada with your nursing practice and license rather than entering Nevada for nursing. In that case, you will likely face similar requirements in the state to which you apply for a license by endorsement, based on your Nevada license. Even if you go to a Nurse Licensure Compact state, your Nevada license will not qualify you for Compact fast-tracking, because Nevada does not comply with the Compact and reciprocally participate. You will have to meet the other state's own application, education, examination, and background check requirements.
State nurse practice acts and state nursing board rules tend to somewhat standardize nurse licensure requirements even without Nurse Licensure Compact participation. For instance, all states accept the NCLEX exams for RNs and LPNs, although many states accept other exams in addition to the NCLEX, complicating licensure from state to state for applicants who take one of those alternative exams. Likewise, many states require, and more states accept but do not require, a nursing education from a program the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has approved. But many states also accept certain non-ACEN approved programs, especially nursing programs in their own states over which the state nursing board has special control. We can help you take advantage of similar requirements while overcoming different requirements between your current Nevada licensure or other current state of licensure and your new licensure state.
Nevada Expedited Licensure by Endorsement
As briefly stated above, Nevada offers a procedure akin to Nurse Licensure Compact procedures for nurses who already hold a valid and equivalent nursing license in another state. Many states call a license by endorsement, that special process for approval of a second or subsequent license. Some states call it a license by reciprocity. Nevada calls it an expedited license by endorsement, making its purpose even clearer. The following sections discuss specifics for Nevada's expedited license by endorsement.
Nevada LPN Expedited License by Endorsement
Section 632.281 of Nevada's Nurse Practice Act authorizes licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to apply for an expedited license by endorsement based on an equivalent LPN license the applicant already holds in another state. The applicant must submit documentation of the LPN license in the other state, that the other state has not disciplined or investigated the prior license, and that the applicant has not committed nursing malpractice. Let us help you overcome issues with your LPN expedited licensure application.
Nevada RN Expedited License by Endorsement
Section 632.161 of Nevada's Nurse Practice Act authorizes registered nurses (RNs) to apply for an expedited license by endorsement based on an equivalent RN license the applicant already holds in another state. As is the case for LPNs pursuing an expedited license, the RN applicant must submit documentation of the RN license in the other state, that the other state has not disciplined or investigated the prior RN license, and that the applicant has not committed nursing malpractice. We're here to help you with your RN expedited application issues.
Nevada APRN Expedited License by Endorsement
Section 632.237 of Nevada's Nurse Practice Act authorizes the State Board of Nursing to license advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) without referring to expedited procedures or prior licensure in another state. Section 632.237 and corresponding sections suggest that expedited treatment is not available for APRNs in Nevada. A State Board of Nursing circular confirms that APRNs must meet all regular licensing requirements without respect to other specialist licenses. APRN requirements include a Nevada RN license, the graduate nursing degree for the specialty, and national board certification for the specialty. Let us help if you face issues with your Nevada APRN application.
Nevada Military Nurse Expedited License by Endorsement
Section 632.162 of Nevada's Nurse Practice Act further offers an expedited license to professional nurses who hold an equivalent license in another jurisdiction and who are active duty military members, veterans, or a spouse of a veteran or military member. The provision's purpose is presumably to facilitate nursing practice by military members and their family members, who may move frequently about the country on military assignment or related to assignments.
Nevada Temporary LPN or RN License
Section 632.300 of Nevada's Nurse Practice Act authorizes the State Board of Nursing to issue a temporary LPN or RN license to an applicant who already holds an equivalent license in another state. The temporary license is valid for no more than twelve months. A temporary license is meant to bridge the potential gap in employment for the nurse who enters Nevada with a license from another state, ready to practice, but must wait for license processing to conclude for a full LPN or RN license. A temporary license can save you the loss of as much as a year of nursing employment while resolving your licensing issues, giving the temporary license huge potential value. Let us help you seek and obtain a temporary license while we address your full licensing issues.
Issues Obtaining a Second or Subsequent License
Issues can certainly arise when you seek Nevada expedited licensure by endorsement based on a prior license in another state or jurisdiction. You've seen above how licensing requirements can vary subtly or distinctly from state to state. Multistate licensing issues for that reason. But multistate licensing issues can also arise because intervening events occurring or conditions developing after your prior licensure interferes with your new license by endorsement. In that instance, the problem isn't the difference in licensing requirements. The problem is what happened in the meantime. The discussion below addresses in greater detail the common issues delaying or preventing Nevada's expedited licensure by endorsement.
Nevada Nursing Education Issues Delaying Licensure
The discussion above shows that Nevada State Board of Registration Rule 632.640 requires LPN and RN candidates to earn their nursing degrees from ACEN approved nursing programs. Almost half of other state nursing boards also require ACEN-approved program graduation. But that means that many states do not require ACEN-approved program graduation and instead also accept graduation from non-ACEN approved programs, especially nursing schools within their own state, about which they have more knowledge and over which they have more control. In short, you may have gotten your first license from a non-ACEN approved program in your licensure state. If so, then the Nevada State Board of Registration may or may not recognize your nursing school as approved. You may alternatively have faced school disciplinary charges or academic progress issues that your school left unresolved on your academic record in a way that triggers Nevada licensing official review. Whatever your education program issues may be, let us help you address them with licensing officials or school officials as necessary for your best outcome.
Nevada Nursing Examination Issues Delaying Licensure
You may not face significant examination issues, given that all states accept NCLEX passage as qualifying, and you probably took and passed the NCLEX. However, some states recognize alternative exams, one of which you may have passed for your other state license. That would likely mean that you must take the NCLEX exam for Nevada licensure unless we can help you convince the State Board of Nursing that your other exam was equivalent. Even if you passed the NCLEX, you may have taken more attempts than Nevada rules and interpretations allow. Nevada State Board of Nursing Rule 632.165 permits only four attempts at passing the NCLEX. After a second unsuccessful attempt, the applicant must get Board permission for a third attempt after presenting a study plan. After a third unsuccessful attempt, the applicant must repeat some nursing theory education. The State Board of Nursing also requires retaking and passing the NCLEX if the applicant has been out of nursing for five years unless the applicant instead completes the Board's refresher course in nursing. Let us help you resolve any examination issues.
Nevada License Discipline Issues Delaying Licensure
Discipline of your prior license can also raise issues with your Nevada expedited licensure by endorsement application. Section 632.347 of the Nevada Nurse Practice Act authorizes the Nevada State Board of Nursing to deny a license application on dozens of different disciplinary grounds. One of those grounds is discipline in another state. If you suffered prior discipline, let us help you show the Nevada State Board of Nursing that your discipline is no longer a disqualifying ground because of your completion of all terms and conditions for license reinstatement in good standing. Even if you did not suffer discipline, your unprofessionalism, malpractice liability, impairment, substance abuse, or other misconduct issues during your prior practice may constitute grounds for license denial. Let us defend any such allegations to ensure your best outcome.
Nevada Criminal History Issues Delaying Licensure
Nevada Nurse Practice Act Section 632.347 also makes conviction of certain crimes grounds to disqualify you from Nevada nursing licensure. The crime must have been one of moral turpitude or relating to nursing practice. Convictions for such crimes as fraud, assault, sexual assault, domestic violence, drug offenses, and theft may constitute disqualifying crimes, depending on the circumstances. Our attorneys may be able to show that you were not convicted of the alleged crime, the courts reversed your conviction, you completed your sentence showing your rehabilitation, or your conviction was not for an offense of moral turpitude or related to nursing.
Nevada Nurse Licensing Procedures
Our attorneys will have appropriate Nevada administrative procedures to invoke on your behalf for your best licensing outcome. You generally have a right to constitutional due process protecting your substantial interests in your nursing license and practice. Nevada nursing laws, rules, and procedures recognize your due process rights. For example, Section 632.350 and the following sections of Nevada's Nurse Practice Act detail lengthy protective procedures for contested licensing cases. Your due process rights and the published Nevada administrative procedures for contested cases guarantee you a right to fair notice of your alleged license deficiencies and a fair hearing at which we can help you present your best evidence of your proper qualifications. That hearing must be before an impartial decision maker. If you have already lost your hearing, we can invoke your administrative appeal rights and seek further judicial review as Nevada administrative procedures allow. Don't give up the fight for your license. Let us exhaust all avenues until you gain appropriate relief.
Retain Qualified Nevada License Defense Counsel
Don't make the common mistake of retaining an unqualified local personal injury attorney, business litigation attorney, or criminal defense lawyer. Nevada administrative licensing proceedings are not civil or criminal court proceedings. The law, rules, and procedures all differ. Given our focus on administrative licensing defense, our skilled and experienced attorneys have the administrative law knowledge and the national reputation and relationships among licensing officials to help you gain your best possible outcome. Our commitment is to save the licenses, jobs, and careers of nurses and other dedicated professionals. Let us help you make the best of your multistate licensing issues.
Steps to Address Your Nevada Licensing Issue
When you retain us, we will promptly notify Nevada State Board of Nursing officials of our appearance on your behalf. That notice will open lines of communication and negotiation that we can pursue for an early voluntary resolution of your licensing issues. We will also identify, gather, organize, and present your best evidence and documentation of your sound qualifications for licensure. If negotiations do not prevail, we can invoke your formal hearing, present your evidence, challenge adverse evidence, and pursue any necessary appeals or court review. We will do so with the speed, care, and sensitivity necessary to administrative licensing proceedings. Let our attorneys put their formidable skills to work for you.
Your Stakes in Nevada Nursing License Issues
You know the value of your move into or out of Nevada. That value might include employment, income, benefits, continuing education, leadership opportunities, and advancement. It may also include similar valuable opportunities for your spouse or other close family members. You should also appreciate, though, that you may have a hidden interest and value in resolving your licensing issues now rather than seeing them arise later on your attempt at license renewal or other state license endorsement. Let us keep your license, professional record, and reputation intact and in order. Your nursing employment and career are worth protecting.
Premier Nevada Nursing License Attorneys
Retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team for your best Nevada expedited licensure by endorsement outcome. We are available in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Reno, Enterprise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Paradise, Sparks, Carson City, Whitney, and across the rest of Nevada, as well as nationwide. Call 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form now for our premier attorney representation.
