Are nurses held to a higher standard?

[nell]

Something I have been wondering about for awhile:

Here in CA, we get an annual "BRN Report Newsletter" that among other things, lists nurses who've had their licenses suspended or revoked. Some of the reasons have nothing to do with nursing, they are things like "Convicted of petty theft and of disturbing the peace" (Page 14) and "Committed dishonest act in retail transaction" (Page 15).

Does any one know if this is the case in other professions, say, does a teacher lose his/her credential or an accountant (CPA) his/her certification for similar crimes?

And is this the same in all states?

Here's the link for the newsletter: http://www.rn.ca.gov/policies/pdf/brnspring2001.pdf

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by Fgr8Out

OK.... I ADMIT it!!! ::: DEEP SIGH :::

I stole a piece of candy when I was 7 years old.... :: hanging my head, offering my license up for revocation and burning ::

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Uh Oh, then I'm going to jail too. I stole candy when I was 5!! (But mom made me take it back and apologize!)

Pat, don't be embarrassed! I deleted your boo-boo's, OK? To delete a post, Go to edit post, at the top of your reply, there is a gray area, above the posting area. Be sure you check off the delete box on the left of this area, then hit the delete now buttn on the right.

Back to the subject....

AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION

CODE FOR NURSES*

1. The nurse provides services with respect for human dignity and the uniqueness of the client unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.

2. The nurse safeguards the client's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature.

3. The nurse acts to safeguard the client and the public when health care and safety are affected by the incompetent, unethical, or illegal practice of any person.

4. The nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for individual nursing judgements and actions.

5. The nurse maintains competence in nursing.

6. The nurse exercises informed judgment and uses individual competence and qualifications as criteria in seeking consultation, accepting responsibilities, and delegating nursing activities to others.

7. The nurse participates in activities that contribute to the ongoing development of the profession's body of knowledge.

8. The nurse participates in the profession's efforts to implement and improve standards of nursing.

9. The nurse participates in the profession's effort to establish and maintain conditions of employment conducive to high quality nursing care.

10. The nurse participates in the profession's effort to protect the public from misinformation and misrepresentation and to maintain the integrity of nursing.

11. The nurse collaborates with members of the health care professions and other citizens in promoting community and national efforts to meet the health care needs of the public.

Source: American Nurses Association, Code for nurses with interpretive statements (Kansas City, Mo.: American Nurses' Association, 1997), Reprinted with permission.

Me again... I don't see anything in there where we have to be above the law, do you?

From Aiken's book, "Legal, Ethical, and Political Issues in Nursing" (I love this book) they say grounds for disciplining include...

*substance abuse

*negligence

*incompetence

*criminal activity

*violation of nurse practice act

*unprofessional conduct (a term interpreted differently in various states)

It also states that reporting offenses to the National Practitioner Data Bank is required.

Why they have to trickle this down to a newsletter sent out is beyond me. Shouldn't that info be availble to those who want it and employers? Why does everyone need to know it?

[nell]

MollyJ & patsue53,

I have no problem with nurses being disciplined for drug diversion or other behaviors having to do with the practice of nursing.

I DO object to the antediluvian attitude that we should be "pure" in every respect. I am a nurse, not a nun (although even The Church has allowed a lot more serious transgressions than our State Board of Nursing does).

The first time I got one of those newsletters I thought "One more reason to get the HE!! out of nursing".

[colleen10]

LynniePooh mentioned "bad checks" as one reason for being listed. I read that more and more places are doing "credit checks" on potential new employees. It's now a part of the hiring process.

Was wondering if any of you, while applying for a job, were told a "credit check" would be completed on you.

[Furball]

Yeah....I was just hired at a hospital...they did the usual background check and also credit check. Weird. I also have to have an FBI background check for my RN license. My heavens...feel like a criminal and I don't even have a speeding ticket to my name.

It is nice to know my coworkers have all been screened though. (although I believe a credit check is overboard) I remember going into adult homes as a homehealth nurse and would be astounded at the type of people they hire. It's easy to know who has a record in a small town. Gypsies, tramps and thieves....

apologise if I offended anyone with that.

[oramar]

Long ago my husband and I had separate checking accounts at same bank. Once day I picked up his check book and used it and signed my name to check. You see they looked exactly alike except for our names. Well the grocery store was really nice about it and called me and told me what I did and let me bring down the money. They could have charged me with writing bad checks. How do I know? Because another nurse I worked with did something similar and she was prosecuted. Most business will let it go if you give them the money right away but it is still a bad check. She was upset and worried at the time about going to court, I now wonder if she lost her license. Needless to say hubby and I still have separate checking accounts but at different banks, checks look totally different. Most businesses just want their money and if they get it without a fuss they will not bother to prosecute but they CAN.

[ggfifirn05]

In response to the original question, "are nurses held to a higher standard?", I can only answer by sharing with you that in my current job in the investment world, those of us who are licensed are required each year to report any "outside employment, investments, business interests and affiliations" and we also have to complete an Outside Interest Questionnaire for management "for approval" annually. We must report any criminal offense other than minor traffic violations, but including DWI or DUI in a "prompt manner", and also on that annual survey. We also have to report if we are subject to any litigation including bankruptcy. Employees asked, supoenaed or summoned to appear as witnesses in civil, criminal or regulatory investigations or proceedings of any kind must advise the Director/Resident Manager immediately.

When a licensed individual has their license revoked or suspended, it is reported to the media & general public...I've seen the notices in the Wall Street Journal and on the Internet. But we "may not initate contact with the media or respond to requests for comments or grant interviews without pre-approval by the Director/Resident Manager and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs". (I've taken most of this directly from my Corporate Compliance Outline.) Granted, the primary reason for these rules is to protect our clients, but I also think it has alot to do with protecting the Firm, too. And lately they've had alot of negative media exposure, so they are really keeping an eye on us these days!

So, yes, other professions do have the same type of censure. I guess the bottom line is to mind your P & Q's, no matter what your chosen profession is!

[nell]

ggfifi,

Do these "licensed individuals" lose their ability to earn a living because of a conviction for petty theft?

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

I don't believe you can practice law with a criminal record. Am I right ?

[KarafromPhilly]

In order to get a license to practice law, you must demonstrate that you are "morally fit". They can, and do, go digging in your past after all manner of things. There was also a white supremacist in ?Nevada? who was denied his license solely on that basis a few years ago. (Not that I have a problem with that, but it seems kind of odd, doesn't it?)

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

It used to be law in Canada (don't know about anywhere else) that Teachers were not allowed to drink in bars - public display of immorality or something like that. I don't know if that applied to nurses too, but itshows we are not the only ones.

Our society seems somewhat hung up on morality... not that morality is a bad thing... but that we use morality as a weapon inappropriately.

"YOU are a BAD person!!! You cannot be a nurse. Nurses have to be good people!" Gimme a break!

There's lots of qualities that people would like to attribute to nurses that may or may not be true - they want to have us all fit into the same holistic, wholesome mold. Writing a bad cheque has nothing to do with nursing ability - but it shakes the wholesome image. I think thats why they punish. Ditto for other professions.

[Furball]

Originally posted by dawngloves

I don't believe you can practice law with a criminal record. Am I right ?

Oh....I thought you COULDN'T practice law until you HAD a record?

just a joke guys....

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

I didnt think any attorneys were morally fit for anything