441.51(1) (1) Article I — Findings and declaration of purpose.

441.51(1)(a) (a) The party states find all of the following:

441.51(1)(a)1. 1. That the health and safety of the public are affected by the degree of compliance with and the effectiveness of enforcement activities related to state nurse licensure laws.

441.51(1)(a)2. 2. That violations of nurse licensure and other laws regulating the practice of nursing may result in injury or harm to the public.

441.51(1)(a)3. 3. That the expanded mobility of nurses and the use of advanced communication technologies as part of our nation’s health care delivery system require greater coordination and cooperation among states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation.

441.51(1)(a)4. 4. That new practice modalities and technology make compliance with individual state nurse licensure laws difficult and complex.

441.51(1)(a)5. 5. That the current system of duplicative licensure for nurses practicing in multiple states is cumbersome and redundant for both nurses and states.

441.51(1)(a)6. 6. That uniformity of nurse licensure requirements throughout the states promotes public safety and public health benefits.

441.51(1)(b) (b) The general purposes of this compact are as follows:

441.51(1)(b)1. 1. To facilitate the states’ responsibility to protect the public’s health and safety.

441.51(1)(b)2. 2. To ensure and encourage the cooperation of party states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation.

441.51(1)(b)3. 3. To facilitate the exchange of information between party states in the areas of nurse regulation, investigation, and adverse actions.

441.51(1)(b)4. 4. To promote compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in each jurisdiction.

441.51(1)(b)5. 5. To invest all party states with the authority to hold a nurse accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the patient is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of party state licenses.

441.51(1)(b)6. 6. To decrease redundancies in the consideration and issuance of nurse licenses.

441.51(1)(b)7. 7. To provide opportunities for interstate practice by nurses who meet uniform licensure requirements.

441.51(2) (2) Article II — Definitions. As used in this compact:

441.51(2)(a) (a) “Adverse action” means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by a state’s laws which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a nurse, including actions against an individual’s license or multistate licensure privilege such as revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, limitation on the licensee’s practice, or any other encumbrance on licensure affecting a nurse’s authorization to practice, including issuance of a cease and desist action.

441.51(2)(b) (b) “Alternative program” means a nondisciplinary monitoring program approved by a licensing board.

441.51(2)(c) (c) “Coordinated licensure information system” means an integrated process for collecting, storing, and sharing information on nurse licensure and enforcement activities related to nurse licensure laws that is administered by a nonprofit organization composed of and controlled by licensing boards.

441.51(2)(d) (d) “Current significant investigative information” means any of the following:

441.51(2)(d)1. 1. Investigative information that a licensing board, after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity for the nurse to respond, if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate more than a minor infraction.

441.51(2)(d)2. 2. Investigative information that indicates that the nurse represents an immediate threat to public health and safety regardless of whether the nurse has been notified and had an opportunity to respond.

441.51(2)(e) (e) “Encumbrance” means a revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of nursing imposed by a licensing board.

441.51(2)(f) (f) “Home state” means the party state which is the nurse’s primary state of residence.

441.51(2)(g) (g) “Licensing board” means a party state’s regulatory body responsible for issuing nurse licenses.

441.51(2)(h) (h) “Multistate license” means a license to practice as a registered or a licensed practical/vocational nurse issued by a home state licensing board that authorizes the licensed nurse to practice in all party states under a multistate licensure privilege.

441.51(2)(i) (i) “Multistate licensure privilege” means a legal authorization associated with a multistate license permitting the practice of nursing as either a registered nurse or licensed practical/vocational nurse in a remote state.

441.51(2)(j) (j) “Nurse” means registered nurse or licensed practical/vocational nurse, as those terms are defined by each party state’s practice laws.