COLUMBUS – The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and the Ohio Board of Nursing recognized Ohio State Senator Kristina Roegner for her sponsorship of Senate Bill 6 which allowed the State of Ohio to enter the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

“Based on the nomination by the Ohio Board of Nursing, we are extremely pleased to honor Sen. Kristina Roegner with the ‘NCSBN Champions of Regulatory Excellence Award’. Her sponsorship of the Nurse Licensure Compact bill in Ohio reflects her dedication to expanding access to nursing care for the citizens of her state. Her work exemplifies the tenets of this award by championing an initiative that benefits patients, helps underserved areas, provides better emergency response, and increases nurse mobility across the nation,” comments, Jim Cleghorn, NCSBN Director, Member Engagement and Government Affairs. The Regulatory Excellence Award recognizes policy makers that have made an identifiable, significant contribution to the mission and vision of NCSBN in promoting public policy related to the safe and effective practice of nursing in the interest of public welfare.

“Senator Roegner’s efforts have had a positive impact to the nursing profession by allowing Ohio to be part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows the state to issue multi-state licenses. The Ohio Board of Nursing is proud that Senator Roegner was nationally recognized as a Champion of Regulatory Excellence for her continued leadership, advocacy, and equitable regulation of healthcare for all Ohioans,” added Ohio Board of Nursing Executive Director, Marlene Anielski.

The compact allows registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical (LPN) to hold a multistate license in both their primary state of residence and 40 other states. The bill was signed into law by Governor Mike Dewine on July 1, 2021, and went into effect January 1, 2023.

Currently, there are approximately 30,000 RNs and LPNs that hold an Ohio issued multi-state license or are working in Ohio from another state.