Nursing without license

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Balder_LPN, LPN

458 Posts

Specializes in Urgent Care.

Wow! Are you using your state BON website to check these? This is very easy in WA but I know it is not always up to date. Difficult to believe it woould be so out of date as to have incorrect info on that many nurses in one facility! What use would that be?

WA state law says RN's LPN's MA's and NAC's must be licensed and that the first offense of practicing these professions without the proper, current, valid license is a gross misdemeanor, subsequent offenses are Class C felonies. I couldnt find in WA state law where a facility would be liable for penalties for having an unlicensed nurse, but I'll bet it is there. I know of two nurses locally who have been notified by each's employer a few days prior to their license expiration and told they could not come in past that date. They did get help from the boss to contact the state, overnight a check, and overnight the license back in the nick of time, talk about stress. And a few added $$

Balder_LPN, LPN

458 Posts

Specializes in Urgent Care.

When I researched this I found that state law says provides an exemption to the prohibition of unlicensed personel using the title nurse for a "Christian Science nurse" as long as that person doesnt use LPN RN or ARNP or the terms for those abbrv.

What is a "Christian Science nurse"?

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

In the most recent Texas bulletin, one of these imposters was employed for over a year before someone noticed no license was on file! Most of the time it's picked up fairly quickly, often before the person ever starts working.

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Using the protected title Nurse is illegal. The facility that allows this should be reported. If the facility receives any federal funding, it is Fraud-usually Medicare Fraud. And Uncle Sam takes a quite dim view of that.

We need to have our license renewed by Jan 31, with a copy in our personnel file. No copy, no pay check and no hours until it's there. I'm not sure about licenses covered in the Compact States.

carol72

231 Posts

This information would lie "heavy on my heart". I would be compelled to let someone of authority know. I worked with an LVN who, for some reason checked on our co-worker's license, she was an "RN", well, she was not an RN. Saddled with this info she came to me, her so-worker, not knowing who to turn to. I suggested she tell no one else (ever) with the exception of one person of authority at our practice. Case closed.

TouchstoneRN

31 Posts

Update on the imposters at least one of them has been fired and advised to seek legal council. I am not sure what is happening with the others. The thing that makes me the most mad is that management (below the CNO) stated to coworkers "give this nurse a call, she needs alot of friends right now" .

destiny5

95 Posts

Update on the imposters at least one of them has been fired and advised to seek legal council. I am not sure what is happening with the others. The thing that makes me the most mad is that management (below the CNO) stated to coworkers "give this nurse a call, she needs alot of friends right now" .

I'm interested in knowing the reason they don't have a license. I think an RN working with an expired license is very different than a GN who never passed NCLEX & never received a license at all. If there was a nurse that worked with me whose license was expired I would "give the nurse a call" maybe he/she forgot to renew it. I bet it happens more than you think. --

kukukajoo, LPN

1,310 Posts

Touchstone- Why would management telling you she needs support be so maddening to you? It sounds like that person is compassionate and maybe he/she knows more than you about the case such as this was something unintentional. I am sure nothing could be lost by being supportive and possibly a lot gained.

TouchstoneRN

31 Posts

because the person never had a license, apparently failed the boards three times and continued to work under the assumption noone would find out. Very irresponsible and dangerous. the other two nurses had expired licenses and are working with the state to get it straightened out...that I can live with.

BSNtobe2009

946 Posts

Specializes in Looking for a career in NICU.

In all 50 states, any type of medical profession that requires a license to perform it, and if you violate that it is a misdemeanor. You not only get fired from your job, but you can be criminally prosecuted, and if your license is temporarily suspended you can void forever your chances of getting it reinstated.

It's the job of the nurse to inform her employer, but it's also the job of the employer to check on a regular basis.

I would report it. There are many reasons that are non-hospital related why someone would lose their license, and it's usually because of another criminal activity that they failed to report to the BON.

Also, hospitals are at risk and their may be corporate insurance implications for the hospital if that nurse makes a mistake and they find out she isn't licensed. It would give a lawyer a field day.

Lawsuits due to lawsuits= Lost jobs and pay raises.

So it is EVERYBODY'S problem.

BSNtobe2009

946 Posts

Specializes in Looking for a career in NICU.
This information would lie "heavy on my heart". I would be compelled to let someone of authority know. I worked with an LVN who, for some reason checked on our co-worker's license, she was an "RN", well, she was not an RN. Saddled with this info she came to me, her so-worker, not knowing who to turn to. I suggested she tell no one else (ever) with the exception of one person of authority at our practice. Case closed.

I probably wouldn't have been so kind, because she is probably getting RN pay, and legally, your are held to the legal standard of your training in the event that something should go wrong.

HappyNurse2005, RN

1,640 Posts

Specializes in LDRP.

Yes, but you also must think-maybe they legally have a different name, or go by their middle name at work. for ex, we have a nurse (not her real name here, of course) named Jennifer Layla Jones. She goes by Layla Jones, its on her nametag, etc. everyone calls her layla. now, if you did an internet license search for Layla Jones, you wouldn't find anything, since legally she's Jennifer.

things aren't always as they seem, and i wouldn't go reporting people if you dont know for sure. your work should be verifying licenses, and making people show them when they renew

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