Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has signed a temporary order allowing nurses licensed in other states to practice in Florida to fill in for the hundreds of nurses who are traveling to Haiti for earthquake-relief efforts. The order expires in 90 days unless extended.
Nurses coming to Florida must hold a valid license to practice in another state, and must not have certain health complications, a history of disciplinary actions or criminal history. Those cleared to work in Florida will receive a
practice letter from the Florida Board of Nursing, after paying a $43 application fee, a state spokeswoman said.
Unlike in the past, out-of-state nurses with practice letters can receive compensation for their work.
Florida has the largest population of Haitians in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Healthcare labor unions say large numbers of their members have been volunteering to assist in Haiti since the Jan. 12 earthquake struck about 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. The Service Employees International Union has at least 600 members willing to travel there, many of whom are Haitian nurses and doctors and native Creole speakers. National Nurses United says nearly 8,000 of its members have signed a list indicating they’re willing to volunteer for disaster relief.
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