Final answer:
A licensed nurse can apply to another state for licensure by endorsement. Licensure ensures a level of quality and public welfare, and nurses can practice in another state without retaking the NCLEX® if they meet the endorsement criteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Once a nurse is licensed, he or she can apply to another state for licensure by endorsement. Occupational licenses are important in the labor market to show that a worker has completed a specific type of education or passed a particular test. For nurses, when they want to practice in a state other than where they were originally licensed, they do not need to retake the NCLEX® examination if they meet the other state's requirements for licensure by endorsement, which often includes a review of the individual’s credentials and employment history.
For many professions, including nursing, licensure is a way to establish quality and protect public welfare. In the case of nurses, once they are licensed in one state, they have the opportunity to apply for licensure in another state provided they follow the appropriate process, which may include a licensure by endorsement, being part of an interstate compact, or following the new state's nurse practice act.