Maryland Board of Nursing Horrors

Dear Nurses in Maryland,

I couldn't agree more with the posts on the Maryland Board of Nursing. I personally, am embarrased to be represented by such a group of disorganized, unprofessional women. They never answer the phone, and the receptionist at the front desk is rude and ignorant. They are not there for us.

When I get a letter from a board of nursing, I picture a group of educated, well-groomed, and articulate professional women. I was quite disappointed to find them to be nothing more than nurses who can no longer nurse and sit around thinking they are more important than they really are.

I was not impressed at all.

How can we ever get ahead in this state when we have these women from Baltimore Podunk respresenting us.? We can't.

Disgusted.

So I walked into the BON office today for my temporary license and I have to say it was a easy process. I had requested the application in the mail. That actually took me 3 weeks for me to get from the email request, but I had filled everything out completely before I went to the office. I went to their recommended CJIS place to get my fingerprinting done, they do it electronically and you you a receipt saying it was completed. I walked into BON with all my stuff and it only took 20 minutes!! I got a copy of my temporary license and they said the it would be available online tomorrow. Thank God this process is over.

Basically I guess you have to walk in if you want to get things taken care of ASAP!. :)

Hi sweetie85,

Thank you for all your threads it is so helpful... I am seeking to get a Maryland license before a job offer, hoping that will improve my chances with JHH. I recently received my FL-RN license do I have to do a refresher course? What does it mean about the 1000 nursing practice? Does that mean clinical hours during nursing school? I am stalking JHH website as you recommended. I have applied to 4 entry level jobs and been rejected by 2 with the other 2 in review of application. I would love to be part of the SPRING program. The description of the program surpass any I have researched so far.. (which have been many)

Continue to update your progress on your post.. It is truly inspiring to me...

So I walked into the BON office today for my temporary license and I have to say it was a easy process. I had requested the application in the mail. That actually took me 3 weeks for me to get from the email request, but I had filled everything out completely before I went to the office. I went to their recommended CJIS place to get my fingerprinting done, they do it electronically and you you a receipt saying it was completed. I walked into BON with all my stuff and it only took 20 minutes!! I got a copy of my temporary license and they said the it would be available online tomorrow. Thank God this process is over.

Basically I guess you have to walk in if you want to get things taken care of ASAP!. :)

Can you get the RN permanent/temporary application at the office as well?

Can you get the RN permanent/temporary application at the office as well?

You can, and I would suggest doing that. I got mine at the office after many reports of people never receiving theirs in the mail after they requested numerous times. It might make a trip for you, but it's worth the hassle I'd say!

Hello my name is Karen Shelly,

I had a similar experience where the board lost my application and when my temp expired I had to go without working for over four weeks and try to convince my employer that I had done all the paper work correctly and gone there twice. Finally after four weeks the corrected the problem and I had to live on my savings. I could of gotten fired. I am glad to hear that you acted upon the travesty.

Karen Shelly

Here is a copy of a letter I recently sent to our governor regarding the inefficient mbon. I have been trying to get my cna license for 6 months now and all I am getting is the run around from employees who do not want to take responsibility;

Governor O'Malley,

If you go to the Maryland board of nursing website your name is prominently displayed on every page. I just wanted to let you know what kind of organization your name is attached to.

First some background; I am a 39 year old divorced/single nursing student with two daughters to raise. I am back in school because in this tough economy I really needed a career that offered some measure of both job security and a decent paycheck. This is the reason I have gone back to school after so many years.

After the first semester of school nursing students become eligible to receive a certified nursing assistant (CNA) license. On December 27, 2010, anticipating that I will have to work during the summer, I went for fingerprinting at CJIS and mailed off my completed application. The envelope was signed for January 2, 2011 by the board of nursing. After many phone calls and back and forth I finally received my 90 day temporary license at the end of March (3 months later!!!!!!). Remember, I could not work until I had at least a temporary license. Anyhow, temporary license in hand I was fortunate enough to procure a coveted nursing externship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. This externship will give me not only valuable nursing experience, but the extra money is desperately needed. This job will be a foot in the door at a wonderful hospital!

The issue? I am scheduled to start Monday and my temporary license expires the 8th!!! I have been very proactive trying to get my permanent license. A month ago I contacted the board of nursing trying to get a status. They told me they had no fingerprints or background check on file so they could not issue the license. When I asked why did someone not contact me I was rudely told that it is my job to keep calling to see if there are any problems. Then the woman in charge of new CNA licenses, (name deleted) informed me that I would have to take care of it and I was given the phone number of the nursing liason between CJIS and board of nursing. This woman, (name deleted), was lovely on the phone, sounded very sympathetic, and promised me results. When I called a week and a half later there were still no results. Even as of this date I am not receiving any return phone calls or emails. She told me I have to call CJIS, it was their issue. Well, I called CJIS. The woman there, (name deleted), told me that she saw that the fingerprinting and background checks were completed and that they had emailed and electronic copy to the board of nursing December 28, 2010!!! (I has received my verification from CJIS December 28 as well). I asked them if they could send another copy and they told me that the board of nursing has to request it. So I call the board of nursing who told me they can not do that, that the liason has to. Bottom line, I followed the directions, everything was in order to get my license, but no one is taking responsibility or action on the issue at hand. I can not work without this license so someone's mistake that no one is taking responsibility for may cost me my livelyhood and the potential of getting my dream job at Hopkins!

I was warned that the board of nursing is horrible to deal with. Potential employers, my professors at school, other nurses all warned me. Why should this board be allowed to run in such dysfunction? Why has no one taken steps to correct it when it can effect people's futures, their careers?

I would really appreciate it if someone can investigate the workings of the board of nursing and perhaps help expedite my license so I can work.

Thanks you,

respectfully,

(name deleted)

taxpayer/voter/single mom just trying to make ends

Friday morning I will be making the trek to the office. I am bringing my friend who is a high level manager/trainer at the FAA with me as he has ways of managing uncooperative employees. Anyhow, I just want to let everyone know about my experience with mbon.

Watch out everyone, maryland BON is run by a group of inexperienced 7 dollar an hour employees. I personally have been going through this process for three months. They have lost my background check, made me look up what the tracking number and the date of transfer then after I gave them the information the woman Ms. Haynes only replied to my email with "thanks". 5 days later I called a few people "of course no one answered and I only got machined." Then I finally got a hold of a woman and she put all my information in and said that the woman from background checked never entered the information i gave her. This was 2 weeks after I had passed my NCLEX and already had numerous problems before this. I had to drive up an hour away to baltimore 3 times to get this worked out. This place is so messed up I do not understand how they are so incompetent. We need a REAL nurse to take this place over and put it into shape.

MD BON is just badly run ...PERIOD!!!

They need someone new to take over....clean house and start refresh

You are absolutely correct about the MBON...they need to be held accountable for messing with healthcare professionals livelyhoods and employability. We can't work without certifications and license numbers. We do everything required of us, but the board can't seem to keep up with the influx of applications and issuing licenses in a prompt manner. I think if everyone who has problems with the MBON wrote the governor a letter or sent e-mails...maybe they'd take notice of how big the problem really is. There is power in numbers.

Has things changed at mbon since going electronic submission?

Not really a change. I requested finger print cards to be sent to me over a month ago just to get the process started, NOTHING! I knew better so I sent in my mom, yes maybe juvenile but she lives there and won't take no for an answer. My mother was able to pick up the cards in two seconds and send them to me. I have actually been able to get one of the endorsement specialist on the phone, after calling maybe 15 times, so I was extra sweet and introduced myself and told her not to forget me as I go through this process. She laughed and was generally positive but answering the phone is a rarity. Will let you know how it all goes.

So far I've had a good experience with the Maryland BON. I requested my packet for licensure by exam in February and received it within two weeks. So I did my background check in March. Then I requested a second packet because I stupidly had an error on the application, in April and got it within a weeks. I hand delivered my completed application on Monday so we will see how long this will take. But I'm still waiting for my slow slow school to pay Pearson.

Oh and I emailed them a question and got a response within 48 hours.