Iowa will soon ink agreements with other states to allow nurses to practice across state lines. New technology spurred the change, as nurses are now answering many health questions over the phone or via the Internet — services which do not operate within state boundaries. Iowa Board of Nursing executive director Lorinda Inman says to comply with present law, a nurse must be licensed in every state in which he or she practices. Inman says Iowa is joining with nine other states in a “nursing licensure compact.” Once the deal is in effect, a nurse who is licensed in one state may practice in another if both states are part of the compact.Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin are among the states agreeing to the new cross-border nursing. Inman expects the rest of the states to adopt the compact within five years.
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