NY: More Scrutiny Sought for Health Workers

ktwlpn, LPN · Dec 19, 2003

Originally posted by NRSKarenRN
More Scrutiny Sought for Health Workers

Published: December 19, 2003

ov. George E. Pataki outlined legislation yesterday that would require stronger background reviews of nurses and other health-care professionals and ensure that medical institutions share full and frank employee records.

The measure, which the governor said would be introduced in January, is intended to protect patients in New York from medical workers like Charles Cullen, the nurse who prosecutors say confessed to killing as many as 40 patients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Mr. Cullen was able to move freely from hospital to hospital despite being fired at least five times.

The proposal outlined by Mr. Pataki calls for credentialing of nurses, pharmacists and respiratory therapists.

The process would require applicants at hospitals, nursing homes and health clinics-under penalty of criminal charges and fines-to provide complete employment records when looking for a job.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/19/nyregion/19PATA.html

What are your reservations?I don't think "credentialing" is needed-I think emloyers need to be protected legally and permitted to tell the TRUTH when someone calls to check a reference.I would have NO problem with my whole employee file being copied and released to a perspective employer..I would certainly have the right to add a letter explaining any problems I may have had during my employment...I don't know why this guy fell through the cracks-repeatedly- but I know I have worked with some pizz poor nurses that were let go but never reported to the BON...Drug divertors,abusers and plain incompetents....Who was responsible for seeing that no-one else fell victim to them? My DON? I guess she dropped the ball-more then once...The same way this guys numerous employers did.It's a tough call--- I have a few gaps in my employment history-and a job that I left after 1 week...I would be obligated to go into the reasons why I did so to any perspective employer....Personal things that I maybe don't care to go into-but the patients that will be under my care and at my mercy deserve some protection...the boss has the right to know if I may be a nut or not,I think.....Actually I think that the BON needs to be alittle more in touch with us--many times my DON has not reported major med errors....some that resulted in a degree of harm..shouldn't they all be reported so the BON can follow each of us?

fergus51 · Dec 19, 2003

I think it is the responsibility of the current employer to report a bad nurse to the BON. I don't think listing a full employment history will make any difference in a case like this. If the nurse lies, and the interviewing hospital doesn't do a good check, then what does this accomplish? Not to mention the fact that previous employers are worried about being sued by you if your version of that one week job is different that their version and it costs you a job you are interviewing for.

Geeg · Dec 19, 2003

The real culprit here are the hospitals. They would rather roll the dice and hope that nobody finds out when pts die secondary to staff negligence. This is much more advantageous than the public finding out that hospitals just want warm bodies working, so that they can continue to rake in the cash.