Falsify credentials

Nurses General Nursing

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what happens if you are caught with a falsified ACLS credential

Termination on the spot. Reported to the BON. Who knows. It's definitely not worth the risk.

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Specializes in School nursing.
I have seen several students fake BLS certification for clinical placement. All were removed from the program.

In practice, the BON might suspend your license.

Wow. Why? Lots of nursing schools even offer a BLS course on campus at a lower cost. Going from your user name, you and I are in the same area and BLS certification can be completed for $30 in the course of an evening long course in the Boston area that is offered nearly every week of the year. Buck up and just do it.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I know that this is a very serious issue, but I have to share . . .

As an ACLS instructor, I have been offered $ for a "real" ACLS card on 3 different occasions - 2 physicians, 1 RT. srsly. They just didn't want to take the class. One of the docs just kept upping the bid when I refused & only ceased when I told him that I was reporting him to the medical ethics committee.

When I was in roles responsible for nursing orientation, we would uncover fake BLS cards on a regular basis. It stopped when we announced that we validated all certifications as part of the new hire process.

Go figure, right???

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Most likely, you'd probably get fired and tagged a "Do Not Rehire." If in nursing school, you may be dismissed.

Worst case scenario: you're fired, made a "Do Not Rehire" AND the fraud reported to the BON, who will likely take disciplinary action on your license, thus really crippling any future career prospects.

The risk isn't worth it. Don't do it.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Thinking the OP let time slip by and ACLS was no longer easily renewable. Would be rather simple to just change the date on the current card.

Now ..sleeping at night, THAT would be a different story ;)

​ACLS is so easy it's laughable. It's nothing like ages ago. Just take the stupid course and be honest.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Wow. Why? Lots of nursing schools even offer a BLS course on campus at a lower cost. Going from your user name you and I are in the same area and BLS certification can be completed for $30 in the course of an evening long course in the Boston area that is offered nearly every week of the year. Buck up and just do it.[/quote']

In all cases it was because the students waited too long to get certified or recertified and wouldn't have been able to complete the course prior to the start of the clinical rotation.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
what happens if you are caught with a falsified ACLS credential

Um, that person will be laughed at and ridiculed and be the go-to cautionary but humorous story that nursing instructors regale their students with.

Jeez, if I'm gonna falsify credentials, I'm going to be a world-class heart surgeon who's a former SEAL that flies fighter planes on the weekends. But a BLS card or an ACLS cert? :roflmao:

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:confused: why and HOW does one go about falsifying an ACLS cert, and WHY would someone want to???

Once knew someone who said she had access to the cards from working with an organization that provided classes. She would fill one out for herself instead of taking the class.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Once knew someone who said she had access to the cards from working with an organization that provided classes. She would fill one out for herself instead of taking the class.

And that is exactly the type of nurse I don't want taking care of me. I want someone who put the effort into learning what is required for safe patient care.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Many years ago, when I was teaching BCLS as part of my job ... the Director of my unit wanted me to falsify cards for some of the staff members who had been there for a while and were stressed by the process of being tested. And as she said, "What did it matter, they would be retiring in a couple of years anyway ... and they were good nurses."

I reported the issue to the head of the education department who said she did not have the political power to fight the powerful ICU Director. That was one of the reasons I quit that job shortly thereafter. (... and no, I didn't give them cards. They had to find other educators who would do that.)

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It's a one day course...........just take the course and don't find out

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
Many years ago when I was teaching BCLS as part of my job ... the Director of my unit wanted me to falsify cards for some of the staff members who had been there for a while and were stressed by the process of being tested. And as she said, "What did it matter, they would be retiring in a couple of years anyway ... and they were good nurses." I reported the issue to the head of the education department who said she did not have the political power to fight the powerful ICU Director. That was one of the reasons I quit that job shortly thereafter. (... and no, I didn't give them cards. They had to find other educators who would do that.)[/quote']

This is frightening. If you've been a nurse for a long time BLS shouldn't scare you! Good for you for standing up for yourself!

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