Voluntary surrender

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I got my letter stating I have to appear before the board of nursing. I have been working in a different state now for two months with a nursing license from that state. I am wanting to voluntarily surrdender my license in my original state so I don't have to go before the board because I know I'm going to lose and I can't afford an attorney. Im going back to school for a non-nursing degree but just want to get through the next year or so working as a nurse in the other state so I can make a living. Has anyone voluntarily surrendered their license instead of going in front of of the board? I'm so scared right now and it's been on my

mind since Jan.

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Anything you do with your license in one state can and most likely will affect your license in another state. Have you consulted with an attorney familiar with nursing licensure? TAANA Executive Office - Home can help you find such an attorney. It would be in your best interest to spend the money on an attorney if you are going to rely on that license for income.

Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Maybe I'm dumb as a rock on this subject but if you had a nursing license in the state you're working in what's the problem? I've had licenses running concurrently in 2 states at one time. I'm not getting what you did wrong...

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Maybe I'm dumb as a rock on this subject but if you had a nursing license in the state you're working in what's the problem? I've had licenses running concurrently in 2 states at one time. I'm not getting what you did wrong...

That part probably has to do with the letter that she received from the BON in the state where she isn't currently practicing, and since she says she knows she's going to lose, it must be something pretty serious.

Specializes in ED.

The problem will come when the state you are working in wants you to renew your license but asks if you ever had disciplinary action against your license which will probably include other states as well.

Yeah, I predict serious issues for nursing license in state #2 if it is surrendered or revoked in state #1. Good luck though?

Specializes in Oncology.

Well I know if I was having trouble with my nursing license, that I depend on for my income, I certainly would forgo the opportunity to hire an attorney and instead ask for advice for anonymous strangers on a forum for all the internet to see :confused:

Well I know if I was having trouble with my nursing license, that I depend on for my income, I certainly would forgo the opportunity to hire an attorney and instead ask for advice for anonymous strangers on a forum for all the internet to see :confused:

And I'd most definitely ask them how to game the system. Is it any wonder the OP is in trouble in the first place? :banghead:

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You are aware that voluntary surrender is like an admission of guilt and state A will send the information regarding being reported to the BoN to state B. If you knew you were subject to discipline in state A you were legally obligated to notify state B, by not notifying state B that license is subject to revocation since you failed to disclose known potential discipline

It is likely Nursys will post that you have an actionable concern in state A which will alert state B. Contact TAANA Executive Office - Home or know surrendering in A = potential and likely discipline in B.

Beg, borrow, but do not steal money for an attorney. Attornies are there for a reason - to protect you. You don't want to lose your license if you don't have to. Even when you move to a new career, this information is available to future employers. Protect yourself, be pro-active. If you are a safe nurse now, protect your reputation. Hopefully, you weren't engaged in agregious behavior.

I hope nothing happened to anyone, and they call you to the board just for some stupid bureaucratic reason.

Honestly, I have no idea how it works really, but years ago we had a nurse who was just making you think... like how did she ever got her license. She had nursing license in four states. Rumor had it, they revoke her license in one state, there she was, working with us with no issue.

Not sure how about now, but it seems that some states just do not communicate. At least back then. Also as someone who was transferring license, I know that some places asked about license in other states. But not every state does it.

Since USA has smart non-unified licensing... So they make you go through all the hoops, and pull money out of your pocket here and there... I guess the bright side of it is one can still work somewhere if losing license in one state - one needs to know what states requires what.

Good luck with your non nursing degree before license renewal, and good luck on surrounding your license

Specializes in PACU.

I'm not sure how it will work, I do know my state just paced new legislation changing our compact state rules to allow an interstate commission with other compact states so these types of things can be carried over from one state to another. The bill had to pass in order for us to remain a compact state.

So if you both states you are licensed in are compact there will most likely be issues in surrounding or getting placed on probation. I don't know how you can afford not to get a lawyer.

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