The Nurse Licensure Compact is enforceable as law and can’t be changed without the consent of all party states.

A travel nurse practicing in an NLC party state is subject to the nursing practice laws and regulations of that remote party state. The travel nurse must know and conform to those laws, rules and regulations affecting their practice in the remote party state. If a travel nurse violates the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) or rules of the party state, the nursing board of the party state may revoke or restrict the travel nurse’s authorization to work as a nurse in that state, but can’t directly sanction the travel nurse’s home state license.

Any violations of nursing practices that occur in a remote party state will be reported to the travel nurse’s home state nursing board. The home state nursing board is required to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action for any violation that occurrs in an NLC party state. Administrative procedures as prescribed by each individual state’s law, including due process rights of a nurse, will apply to any disciplinary proceedings related to violations occurring under a compact license privilege.

The shared goal of all United States nursing boards is to protect the public’s health and safety through the regulation and monitoring of nursing education and practice. A coordinated licensure information system called NURSYS promotes ongoing attainment of this goal through access to information on the licensing and disciplinary history of each nurse. A party state must submit information on any current significant investigation, action against a nurse’s compact privilege, or any denials of applications for licensure.