Nursing without license

TouchstoneRN · Jan 8, 2007

Update....If any of you are wondering what has happened to the Nurses involved - here is an update...the first nurse was promptly fired after it was determined that she never had a license to practice nursing...the state licensing division has opened a full investigation and charges will be filed. The second nurse with the expired license is currently being investigated after there was definitive proof that she also did not ever have a license to practice and has also been terminated from her position with our institution. The third nurse was able to finally provide proof but because she was working with an expired license for three months her licensed has been suspended for undetermined amount of time (she won't say) and she has been heavily fined.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2007

If your driver's license is revoked and you continue to drive, you are obviously breaking the law. But if you cause no harm to others, who's going to bother to prosecute you criminally?

Well, me. I am a DOT nurse. Every day I take licenses away from people who are too medically impaired to drive. I also hook up police and social workers for services & action when medically impaired people keep driving after loss of license.

On the "no license" topic..I had an interesting event happen. I'm the only RN in my agency which is non-medical except for my role. I train counter staff in basic medical situations they'll see at the counter. I had an employee who was constantly interrupting me, correcting me and giving others bad information. She told everyone in a 3 state area she was "a nurse". I took her aside privately and asked her about her status. She said she was an LPN. I asked if her license was valid...and she said yes. I called the BON and she had never been licensed. I confronted her and then the story unraveled....she'd take a few classes, dropped out, worked as a NA, felt she was "as good as" any nurse. I explained she could not call herself a nurse and that there were sanctions for doing so. A letter from the BON backed me up.

She was angry because I stepped on her fiction. However, she was giving a lot of out of date and incorrect information to other trainees.

oramar · Jan 8, 2007

my thought is that any institution that allows a person to practice without throughly checking license status is extremely neglegent, others I am sure have said the same

kitty=^..^=cat · Jan 8, 2007

'Fake' nurse to appeal huge fine

By Associated Press

January 3, 2007

CHATTANOOGA-A woman fined $717,000 by Tennessee's nursing board for falsely claiming to be a registered nurse and nurse practitioner said Wednesday she is a victim of "falsehoods" and will appeal the penalty.

"I want these falsehoods retracted," said Marketa Barnes, 50, who formerly worked as administrator at a Caring Senior Service USA franchise in Chattanooga. "I know I am going to appeal it."

A state Board of Nursing order said Barnes was fined for dispensing medicine and directing other employees without a license.

Jeff Salter, the San Antonio, Texas-based company's founder and chief executive officer, said Barnes "at all times was an employee of a franchisee which is independently owned and operated." He said the company "had no supervisory authority over her."

The former franchise holder, Jerry Batson, could not be reached for comment.

From about October 2004 to April 2006, Barnes repeatedly called herself a "registered nurse" or "nurse practitioner" despite not having been licensed, the order says.

While purporting to be a nurse, Barnes gave medications about 72 times and gave instructions to workers about 75 times, according to the order.

"The action of Marketa Barnes poses such an imminent threat to patient safety that it requires maximum penalty," the order says.

Barnes also could face legal problems from the Tennessee Department of Health's investigation. The department attorney is referring the case to the Hamilton County district attorney and "any other appropriate legal authorities," according to the Board of Nursing order.

The order, issued after a Dec. 7 hearing, is the "culmination" of the department's investigation, department spokeswoman Shelley Walker said.

The order also said Barnes gave one client drugs such as liquid methadone and later pronounced the same client's death.

"That is a falsehood," Barnes said. "These people self-medicated. They did have nurses in the home."

Barnes said she was a victim of a business dispute "vendetta" and was preparing an administrative appeal.

Salter said he was denied inspection of the independently owned and operated Chattanooga franchise and went to court to terminate the franchise agreement. Salter said his company does not provide nursing services.

"We feel pretty confident that had we been given the right to inspect this location, we would have caught some degree of (those) actions," Salter said.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.

tracylmartin38 · Jan 14, 2009

Hey there, I'm a new graduate LPN, and recently started working for a pediatric clinic. I found out that a primary nurse working with a pediatrician is not a licensed nurse! Oh, she has been to school, but can't pass her boards. (Has taken it 3 times.) This person gives vaccinations, medications, and calls herself "A Nurse". What!?! :nono: How do I know? This person told me herself!!! When I questioned the powers that be about it, they said that the pediatrician was taking responsibility for it, and not to worry about it. :banghead: Then why did I work so hard to get my license? Does anyone know how to report this? I contacted my local state board of nursing (Arkansas), and they agreed with me, but as far as I know, no action has been taken. And again.... HELP!!

RNgonewild · Jan 14, 2009

I had a nurse buddy who had her wallet stolen. The person who stole her wallet, with her nursing license inside tried to get a job across the state with her license. Luckily she got caught.

redranger · Jan 14, 2009

This is true I went to the Texas BON and you can enter your SS#, license # or name and all the info pops up. I dont know if I like all my information just popping up and just anyone and everyone being able to view it.. But thats just the way it is I guess...

If you don't like it, then turn in your licenese to the Texas BON and ask them to take you out of the system.

All that info. is there for public safety.

This is standard for Texas

http://www.tdlr.state.tx.us/

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

If you don't like it, then turn in your licenese to the Texas BON and ask them to take you out of the system.
All that info. is there for public safety.
This is standard for Texas
http://www.tdlr.state.tx.us/

On the Texas website, they do NOT show your ss#, ever. You can get the license number if you have the dob and last four of ss, but you cannot get the license number by looking up the name.

BroadwayRN, ASN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

The other day at work one of my co-workers searched the license verification site and found more than one nurse working on our floor with questionable license status. Any info would be appreciated

There is a huge difference between not having a license and having a questionable license status. Some nurses have been disciplined for things like diverting drugs, drinking on the job, etc..and can still work with their license on probation. Questionable license status does not mean they don't have one.

Txangel791 · Jul 23, 2009

I just learned that my nurse manager had a license revocation quite some time ago. Apparently the upper management knows about it and are being very hush-hush. I cant believe this person hasnt been fired, or reported to the DA. I know that if I report it, my management will make life difficult for me and I will never be promoted. This is really making me angry. I have even been instructed not to tell anyone. The manager involved is " out on leave" and is presumably being allowed to use vacation time! I believe once a license is revoked you must wait one year before requesting reinstatement, but they seem to think this will be "fixed" rather quickly. I am of the opinion that no matter if they somehow get it fixed, this person was practicing without a license and therefore should be let go and reported. What is your opinion?