losing your license?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I have a question for all you experienced/informed nurses, how easy is it to lose your license? I just hear all the time " its my license" or " you better get out of there or you will lose your license." I am so afraid to lose my license but I honestly am not clear on what it is I am avoiding? Do the best job you can, I get that, but never make a mistake? To err is human. Would someone really lose their license if they made a medication error? I guess I am so afraid of the unknown. If anyone could share their knowledge I would appreciate it.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
If you look at the very last case of suspension on the California Board of Registered nursing (the link was provided above) it involves gross negligence and a 1 year old died. It seems like it is much more than a mistake, more than one thing was done wrong, so I'm not sure if a medication error can cause your license to be suspended.

I know some hospitals have barcodes and things like that on medicines, so maybe if you still managed to give the wrong medicine they would be a little more upset.

That depends on the mistake and outcome. In some cases it is unbelievably difficult to lose one's license. But on the other hand it is incredably easy. I have seen gross negligence get by with a wrist slap and a simple mistake persued by a vengeful administration (no untoward outcome) kiss her license goodbye forever. SO....

KNOW YOUR STATES NURSE PRACTICE ACT! and stay within it's guidelines and rules. All states differ! ie:

http://www.massnurses.org/legislation-and-politics/mass-nurse

Always try your best.

Try to do what any other "reasonable and prudent nurse would do",

Check, check and re-check, then check again.

Remember no matter what the MD's order says......If you give it, insert it,apply it.....even if the order is wrong

IT IS YOUR FAULT!

And most important........Carry malpractice. It's cheap and it can save your butt and your license! ;)

But don't make yourself crazy either......take a deep breath and if it doesn't feel right it probalbly isn't......just ask a lot of questions. :)

woooo u guys should read the 9th one down, about Beattie on the California link.. crazyyy how does a patient even let that happen!

I don't even believe that, it just sounds too far-fetched.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Some of those cases scare me. I mean as in the case of Sandra Barber, I'm not sure if I'm completely understanding it, but it seems that all she did was move a patient with a mechanical lift, and the patient had no clothes on. While I know this is not "right", it just goes to show that sometimes there is a fine line that protects your license.
Also, keep in mind that the Texas Board of Nursing disciplines with a very heavy hand. Since the previously mentioned nurse lives and works in Texas, she is subject to their nurse practice act.

Based on what I read, two things occurred: (1) the resident was transferred with a mechanical lift while naked, and (2) the nurse and the CNA performed incontinent care on the man after multiple refusals from him. He does have the right to refuse incontinent care, no matter how urine-soaked he might have been. In addition, nurses in the U.S. cannot touch a patient without their permission, or they risk facing an assault charge.

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