Updated June 2026
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a projected global shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030, driven by ongoing challenges in workforce education, employment, deployment, and retention. While the shortage will disproportionately affect low- and lower-middle-income countries, healthcare organizations around the world—including those in the United States—continue to face workforce shortages, making it increasingly important to recruit, retain, and deploy qualified clinicians where they’re needed most.
As healthcare leaders work to strengthen workforce resilience, one concept that continues to generate discussion is the national nursing license. The nursing shortage, combined with natural disasters, regional patient surges, and other unexpected disruptions, has reinforced the importance of workforce mobility. The ability to quickly deploy qualified nurses where they’re needed most could help healthcare organizations respond more efficiently during periods of increased demand.
What Is a National Nursing License?
A national nursing license is a proposed licensing model that would allow registered nurses to practice anywhere in the United States under a single license rather than obtaining separate licenses for individual states. Currently, nursing licensure is regulated at the state level. While many states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows eligible nurses to practice across participating states with one multistate license, not every state is a member. As a result, nurses may still need to obtain additional licenses depending on where they intend to work.
A national nursing license would go a step further by creating a standardized framework that could reduce licensure barriers nationwide—a concept that has been explored by the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations (NATHO) in its white paper, Building a Culture of Safety: A National License Model. While such a model has not been adopted, it continues to be discussed as healthcare organizations seek ways to improve workforce flexibility and patient access to care.
Benefits of a National Nursing Licensure for Healthcare Facilities
A national nursing license could offer several potential benefits for healthcare organizations, including:
- Improved speed to fill open positions
- Access to a larger pool of qualified candidates
- Greater workforce mobility across state lines
- Reduced credentialing and compliance roadblocks
- Faster time to fill urgent staffing needs
- Reduced need for emergency licensing measures during healthcare crisis staffing
- Less administrative burden for healthcare organizations and nursing professionals
For healthcare systems operating across multiple states, a more standardized licensing model could also simplify workforce planning by making it easier to recruit and deploy qualified clinicians where they are needed most.
Current Limitations of State-by-State Licensure
Although the Nurse Licensure Compact has expanded multistate practice opportunities for many nurses, the current system still presents limitations.
Not every state participates in the compact, and nurses working outside participating states may need to complete separate licensure applications, pay additional fees, and wait for approval before they can begin practicing. For healthcare organizations responding to rapidly changing staffing needs, these administrative steps can delay deployment even when qualified clinicians are available.
While many licensing processes have become more efficient over time, healthcare leaders continue to evaluate whether additional flexibility could further strengthen workforce responsiveness.
What Could a National Nursing License Mean During a Healthcare Crisis?
The importance of healthcare crisis staffing extends beyond global pandemics.
Natural disasters, severe weather events, disease outbreaks, cybersecurity incidents, and other unexpected disruptions can quickly create localized staffing shortages. During these situations, healthcare organizations often need experienced clinicians to begin providing care as soon as possible.
A national nursing license could help reduce delays associated with obtaining additional state licenses, allowing qualified nurses to respond more quickly where patient demand is greatest.
Beyond emergencies, greater workforce mobility could also help healthcare organizations address seasonal census fluctuations, specialized staffing shortages, and unexpected vacancies while maintaining continuity of patient care.
A More Flexible Future for Healthcare
Whether a national nursing license becomes reality or not, the conversation reflects a broader shift toward more flexible, resilient workforce strategies. As healthcare organizations continue preparing for future staffing challenges, improving workforce mobility and reducing barriers to care will remain important considerations.
Medical Solutions helps healthcare organizations build stronger, more resilient workforces through flexible staffing solutions and strategic workforce expertise. To learn how we can help your organization prepare for future workforce challenges, connect with our team.
