[brian]

Nurses fired for stealing drugs would get reported. So would pharmacists who lost their jobs for making repeated and serious mistakes. Also listed would be respiratory therapists who hit and abused their patients.

The very worst and most dangerous health care workers would be tracked by a federal data bank under a plan proposed yesterday by New Jersey's two U.S. senators. Sen. Jon Corzine (D.-N.J.) said he wanted to "break the chain of silence" that he blamed for allowing accused killer nurse Charles Cullen to move from hospital to hospital. Corzine and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D.-N.J.) plan to introduce the bill next week.

Full Story: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey...8373140500.xml

[LKRN]

I don't like tattle tales and if there is going to be a "bad nurse data bank" then the data bank administrator better make sure the names on the list are really guilty! I don't believe this type of data bank would be necessary if true and honest references could be provided without fear of legal action.

[laughingfairy]

I think that will be the real problem. How often are nurses asked to leave a facility or fired for another reason because "proof" of a problem is not solid. I think that many people will slip through the cracks. I think that it can already be demonstrated with the back ground checks that are done for adult and child abuse registry.

And I don't believe that unsubstantiated alligations should be part of any registry.

[tiroka03]

My facility fired a na/r due to neglect. But with guidlines about discolsure, the next facility never knew. However, she started working at the facility where my mom was living. I had a personal heart to heart with the DON at this new facility, since I personally saw the neglect in my facility, and my mother was involved in the next facility, I requested she never come in contact or care for my mom. This limited this nar/s ability to work, (so sad) at this new facility. She managed to get fired from this new place as well. Where is she working now? who knows, who is she neglecting/abusing now? who knows. How many people will be affected over the next years? Will it be your mom, your dad or even you - she will be neglecting next? Who knows.

Of course the claims should be proven. But, I am sure there are those who commit neglect/abuse and will never get caught. But, at least the ones who are known should be on a list.

[barefootlady]

I don't like the sound of this. We have all had problem patients, problems bosses, and just plain problem days in general. I think a conviction on a charge would have to be involved before this would fly. Neglect/abuse are serious charges, if guilty then by all means, have a valid record, not just a rumor or vague statements.

[Jailhouse RN]

WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THAT? There is enough crap to deal with in this job without a bunch of know nothing politicians getting in it.

[SmilingBluEyes]

sounds like it could be mismanaged, like so many things of this nature. I don't like it much myself.

[Hellllllo Nurse]

Originally Posted by barefootlady

I don't like the sound of this. We have all had problem patients, problems bosses, and just plain problem days in general. I think a conviction on a charge would have to be involved before this would fly. Neglect/abuse are serious charges, if guilty then by all means, have a valid record, not just a rumor or vague statements.

I agree. If there is actual proof- a conviction- there should be a national data bank. However, most places already do criminal background checks. I know many BONs require fingerprinting (mine does). But, what do they do with the fingerprints? Check them against those of known offenders, or just file them away?

[nurseunderwater]

hmmmm......maybe all the full of crap politicians should be listed for their various indiscretions and false representations....wait, I don't think there is a server on the internet large enough to hold all that information

[Justus]

Perspective? I have worked in this field for almost 14 years, mostly in LTC facilities, to me this almost sounds like a godsend. I have seen patients abused in every sense of the word only for the abuser to get a "talking to" or nothing to come of it at all. I know of at least once that a charge nurse "covered" for a CNA which equated to saving both their butts yet the patient was hospitalized for 2 weeks. "Tattle Tale"- ,obligation & circumstance calls for it. No I don't run and tell over every tedious thing but I will not EVER stand for abuse of my patients. I didn't come to this profession to be part of some clique that covers one another's butt. I love my job, the people are like family to me ( including most co workers) . "Do unto other's as you would have them do unto you".
I agree with barefootlady.... I think a conviction on a charge would have to be involved before this would fly. Neglect/abuse are serious charges, if guilty then by all means, have a valid record, not just a rumor or vague statements.