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 As COVID-19 fatigue takes its toll on health care workers, the
Illinois Senate passed a bipartisan bill out of the Licensed Activities
Committee today that could help remedy Illinois’ nursing shortage.
Senate Bill 2068, sponsored by state Sen. Sarah Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would
add Illinois to the multistate Nurse Licensure Compact, making it easier for
nurses such as Iowa native Madalyn Mauro to put her critical skills to work in
Illinois.
“Getting the Illinois license took months because they aren’t in the compact. I
had to drive five hours from Des Moines to Chicago just to get fingerprinted
because they wouldn’t accept Iowa prints,” she said.
Crippled by a nursing shortage even before the pandemic struck, more than half
of current Illinois registered nurses aged 55 or older are approaching
retirement. Licensed practical nurses in Illinois face a similar shortage.
Illinois’ outdated licensing policies have provided extra barriers for those who
would want to work in the state.
“As Illinois faces a shortage of health care workers, the Illinois Senate should
be commended for the efforts to remedy the situation and provide support nurses
desperately need,” said Amy Korte, vice president of policy at Illinois Policy.
Illinois is one of only a few states that requires its own nursing license
without offering reciprocity for licenses from other states, creating a costly
and time-intensive obstacle for nurses who want to work in the state. Each nurse
wishing to practice in Illinois must pay $50 for a license as well as fees for
fingerprinting and background checks.
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All these extra steps prevent care providers from
getting to patients where they’re needed most desperately in a
timely manner. When COVID-19 hit, Mauro’s hiring process for a nurse
job in Chicago was put on hold.
“It put me in a tough situation,” Mauro said. “I
needed a job, but I couldn’t transfer my [Illinois] license. I had
to get a new license just to get a job back in Iowa, which cost
hundreds of dollars.”
Joining the compact means Illinois would join 34 other states
including Midwest neighboring states Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin,
Kentucky and Missouri to accept multistate licenses for registered
nurses and licensed practical nurses to practice in the state.
Illinois would still maintain its own nursing licenses and recognize
existing licenses, and also allow nurses with compact licenses to
practice in the state.
The bill passed committee unanimously and was added to the agreed
bill list on the Illinois Senate floor. In the House it’s sponsored
by state Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside.
“Adding Illinois to the Nurse Licensure Compact can help alleviate
the long shifts and exhaustion nurses have faced during the past
year, while also opening up career and volunteer opportunities for
Illinois nurses,” Korte said. “The license has worked well for
nearly three dozen other states, and Illinois has a lot to gain by
joining.”
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