Politics
Politics

Georgia approves quick licensing for nurses responding to coronavirus

A nurse stands Tuesday at the entrance to the mobile surge unit tent outside the emergency entrance at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
By Mark Niesse
March 20, 2020

Nurses traveling to Georgia to treat the coronavirus can now quickly receive licenses.

The Georgia Board of Nursing recently approved an expedited review process for out-of-state nurses to better respond to the public health threat.

Temporary licenses will be reviewed in less than 24 hours. Regular licenses will be reviewed within seven days.

“Fighting, defeating and overcoming coronavirus in Georgia and across the country will require enlisting the help of the best and brightest medical professionals available,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, whose office houses the Georgia Board of Nursing. “Regulatory barriers should not get in the way of public health.”

The expedited review process was announced Friday after Gov. Brian Kemp declared a public health state of emergency last weekend.

Licensed practice nurses, registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses who have an active license anywhere in the U.S. will be eligible to apply.

Applications can be submitted and permits can be verified online at www.nursys.com.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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