Massachusetts nurses have been regulated by the state since the early 20th century. Nursing has changed. With the use of technology in healthcare and the growth of multistate healthcare corporations, the need for nurses to practice in multiple states has increased. In response to this change in nursing, several states have adopted the Nurse Licensure Compact. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows nurses to practice across state lines in states that have adopted the NLC. Massachusetts should pass the NLC so that MA nurses can have more job opportunities, ability to utilize multiple nurses during a disaster, and create an easier and safer way to process disciplinary actions regarding nurses who practice in multiple states. Massachusetts nurses would benefit greatly if the NLC were approved in their state. Regulation of nursing was controlled by the state. Each state has its own Nurse Standard of Practice Act that regulates nursing practice and licensing. When nurses want to practice in another state, the nurse would have to contact that specific state nursing board, reapply for a license, and pay another fee. The single state licensing system means that nurses are somewhat incompetent to practice across state lines (Poe, 2008). The single license system has placed barriers in front of nurses. It makes it harder for nurses to practice in other states and harder for multistate hospitals to use their own nursing staff. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) was conceived by the National Council of Nurse Practitioners (Hellquist and Spector, 2004). The NLC “allows a nurse to be licensed (in the nurses' states of residence) and to practice in other states as long as that nurse recognizes...... half of the card...... American Association of Nurses of occupational medicine, 52(2), 52-53. Extracted from the CINAHL database. Hellquist, K. (2006). What nurse case managers need to know about the nurse licensing agreement. Case Manager, 17(2), 47-50. doi:10.1016/j.casemgr.2005.11.001 Hellquist, K. & Spector, N. (2004). An Introduction: National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Compact. Journal of Healthcare Administration Healthcare Law, Ethics and Regulation, 6(4), 86-89. Retrieved from the CINAHL databasePoe,L. (2008). Nursing regulation, the nurse licensing compact, and nursing administrations: working together for patient safety. Nurse Administration Quarterly, 32(4), 267-272. Retrieved from the CINAHL database. York, C. (2009). President's message. Compact Nurse Licensure Bill Passed in Missouri!. Missouri State Board of Nursing Newsletter, 11(3), 1. Retrieved from the CINAHL database.