Wayne Littlejohn, clinical manager of critical care services at St. Vincent’s Regional Medical Center, speaks Friday with Pam Sisneros, center, and Quaila Vigil, both registered nurses at St. Vincent’s. The Legislature has 30 days to pass a budget, but only a few days to pass a nursing compact — a bill that will ensure nurses from other states can use their licenses in New Mexico. It’s arcane but important to hospitals in a state with a shortage of health care professionals.