If you’re wondering why the cards are history, here’s the reason: At a September ’09 meeting, it was decided that the hard cards failed to serve their intended purpose of keeping status and licensure information up to date. Some employers were accepting the card alone as proof of current licensure/certification status, without confirming on the Board’s verification system.  Since the accuracy of the information on hard cards is only guaranteed to be valid on the day the card is issued, a suspension, revocation or other imposed discipline may not show up—hence the Board’s recommendation that all employers of nurses/CNAs verify statuses online at the Nursing Board’s website, where we travel nurses can print proof of licensure and carry it with us—not necessary, but recommended if it makes you feel more comfortable.

In other licensure related news, 2,000 miles from Nevada, the Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist has just signed an executive order allowing licensed nurses from other states to work in Florida for the next three months. The order comes on the heels of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010, and helps ensure that more nurses will be on hand to aid those victims and survivors being airlifted to Florida for medical care. If you are interested in using your invaluable training as a nurse to help Haiti’s earthquake victims, Broward Health proves that American Traveler’s Florida nursing jobs in Miami and Broward County are a great place to start.

Isn’t it great to know, you don’t have to be a card carrying nurse to make a difference?

This development presents two types of opportunities for the travel nurse. First, nurses between assignments may choose to do a volunteer stint in Haiti.  American Traveler has seen many of its RNs volunteer over the years, and encourages those who wish to serve in Haiti to do so.

The second opportunity involves travel nursing jobs that will become available to fill the temporary absences.  These are likely to be opening up all across the country; check our rn jobs list often for new travel nursing assignments.

In Florida, there has been a particularly large response from volunteers – and thus a looming shortage of licensed nurses. That means there’s a good chance that there will be many excellent Florida travel nursing jobs opening up.

To make it even easier and more desirable for a traveling nurse to take a temporary nursing job in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist has passed an emergency executive order to expedite the process for licensure by endorsement of nurses holding a valid license to practice in another state.