Guam first U.S. territory to enact Nurse Licensure Compact

On March 5, Guam became the first U.S. territory to enact the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows registered nurses and licensed practical or vocational nurses to have one multistate license for practicing in their home state or territory and other NLC states. “Nurses from other member states can now come here and practice immediately, increasing our people’s access to safe, quality care without the need to apply and wait for a Guam nursing license or disaster declaration,” said the measure’s chief sponsor, Guam Senator Mary Camacho Torres. There are currently 35 states that have enacted the NLC. (NCSBN news release, 3/5/21)