Open positions at Butler Memorial Hospital and other Independence Health System agencies are already advertised in neighboring states, but nurses with licenses from other states may now have an easier time entering jobs in the region.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 5, registered nurses, RNs, and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who hold a multistate license through the interstate Nurse Licensure Compact will be permitted to practice in Pennsylvania. Act 68 of 2021 authorized Pennsylvania to join the NLC, which increases patients' access to in-person and telehealth care, according to a news release from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office.

Karen Allen, president of Butler Memorial Hospital and Clarion Hospital, said both hospitals will apply for exceptions which will allow them to hire nurses with out-of-state licenses.

“It used to be if you moved to Pennsylvania, you had to apply for a Pennsylvania license,” Allen said. “With an exception, you get a reciprocal license as long as the hospital has the exception request. You wouldn't necessarily have to get a Pa. license, but you could choose to get a Pa. license.”

Allen said Butler Memorial Hospital has been holding steady with its nursing staff in recent years, in part thanks to a program it implemented allowing nursing students to work at the hospital in their final year of schooling.

“People in their senior year of nursing program could apply, and they could spend a year with us as an extern and transfer into RN position after,” Allen said. “That got us 10 RNs recently.”

Overall, receiving an exception from the state will make it easier for nurses to work at Independence Health System facilities, and Allen said she expects the hospitals in the system will each receive exceptions.

“It will make it easier for people to consider their options and potentially get us a few additional nursing applicants,” Allen said. “We think we'll focus on some of the closer portions of Ohio and West Virginia once we get that exception.”