This process is overwhelming, and I can’t believe it is here. It feels like the past four years flew by in the blink of an eye. I’m from New Hampshire and NH is Nurse Licensure Compact state. I’ve always loved Boston and hope to get there one day but I plan on applying and becoming licensed by examination in California. California is pending their Nurse Licensure Compact state title. I’ve been looking at many application processes and from what I’ve seen they are all completed and submitted web based. The California State board of nursing does require transcripts to be sent to them since I am coming from an out of state program. I know that not all application processes are the same. The application that I am focused on opens April 4^th, and this is for a nurse residency program in San Diego, CA. The window is only open till the 15^th of April so I hope it will be a quick turn around of information.

California does require fingerprinting and the fingerprints will be used to conduct a criminal background check. According to their state board of nursing website, since I am out of state, I can follow a Manual Fingerprint Process. The process includes getting an 8” by 8” fingerprint card that the Board provides from the Fingerprint Request Form, and I will follow the process for completing the card. Then once that is completed, I will mail the card to the appropriate location.

As I reflect on the presentations from the Attorney General’s Office and the Medical Professionals Health Program, a lot of emotions go through my head about the sad truth that patients face from the healthcare professionals they put their trust in. Some provisions that I found for impaired nurses are the revoking of licensing for nurses that have a suspected mental illness and unprofessional conduct includes nurses working under the assumption of alcohol intoxication that are dangerous to the public. I also found that nurses are expected under their license to be mandated reporters of suspected abuse.

Since there are many legal issues that impact nursing, I know it’s important to protect myself and most importantly my license. To do so, I will follow all laws and rules, I will treat every patient with care and respect. I am in this profession to care for and help those who need it most. I will report unsafe behavior, violence, substance use, and more illegal actions I see because that is my job as a healthcare professional but also my ethical value. I need to keep my patient’s safe. To keep myself safe, I will have nurses’ insurance. I will respect my patient’s wishes and do everything I can do be their advocate, caregiver, and most importantly the nurse they deserve.