CANTON -- As the nursing shortage continues to plague area healthcare facilities, county legislators are calling on the New York State Senate and Assembly to pass legislation that would allow nurses from other states to legally practice in New York.

Under the terms of the proposed legislation, the Nurse Licensure Compact would allow nurses licensed in any state taking part in the compact to practice within any other compact state without applying for another license.

Officials say the move would make it easier for nurses to transfer from one healthcare system to another.

The NLC was first proposed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in 1997 in response to a variety of calls for action, officials say.

First proposed in New York State in 2013, though as of Aug. 2023 state officials have failed to sign an agreement to adopt the NLC. New York is one of 11 states in the nation that remains a non-NLC state.

"Being a member of the NLC means nurses would have more geographic flexibility which helps nurses who work in multi-state health systems and traveling nurses, and it also benefits participating states and their employers since they can hire nurses from other NLC states removing the need to apply for new licenses, resilient in a more streamlined process," legislators say.

County officials noted the nationwide shortage of nursing staff and how it has progressed in recent years "with several factors contributing to the healthcare staffing crisis," including an aging workforce, burnout, high turnover and the lack of nursing educators, along with he COVID-19 pandemic, which "aggravated" the healthcare crisis.

"Rural and remote areas, such as St. Lawrence County, tend to have older residents who typically require more medical attention and care, and having fully-staffed local hospitals and access to care is necessary," legislators say.

County officials say being a member of the NLC would increase the number of available nurses, would help the county prepare for natural disasters and virus outbreaks or "other unpredictable circumstances where more nurses would be needed."

The inclusion of New York in the NLC would also promote cooperation with nurses and healthcare professionals across state lines and would give greater access to care with patients not missing out on specialized care they could benefit from because of state lines, legislators say.

The state legislature will consider Senate Bill S1230 and Assembly Bill A4552, "An Act to Amend the Educations Law, in Relation to Adopting the Inter-State nurse Licensure Compact (Part A) and to Amend the Education Law in Relation to Adopting the Advanced Practice Registered nurse Compact (Part B) during the current legislative session.