Does anyone know if CNO's license protection benefit has a grace period? I have a possible board complaint. I was told this type of complaint will most likely be low priority, but I am still worried I may have a suspension of some sort. I am going to sign up for CNO, paid in full. If I do get served a certified letter stating there is an investigation, how long before benefits can take effect? I've only ever done nursing and my license is my life. I just won't be able to afford an attorney if or when I am served a letter. Worse case scenario, I lose my license (unlikely) but I want to plan for the worse. Also, have any of you gotten a job during an investigation? If so, what were some challenges you faced? Did you leave nursing as a whole? I am considering leaving nursing all together. The stress I am feeling right now is insane! I can't sleep at night. Please help. 

They will not cover you.  The only cover from the day the policy is implemented forward; claims are not retroactive.  

I have never had a complaint, but twice have had the threat of one...one I wasn't worried about, the other...I couldn't sleep for weeks and nothing came of it.

Should you get a complaint, I used to have a friend that was on the BON in another state...I'll review worse case scenario and assume you made a huge mistake.  What the BON looks for is

A) Did you perform due diligence...did you know the policy, did you follow policy, were there barriers that kept you from following policy, did you escalate to the MD, house supervisor, administration, etc.  

B)  Do you even recognize what went wrong?  If it was your fault, are you taking responsibility?  What are you going to do different to make sure _______ doesn't happen again?  How are you going to protect that patient?

The BON is there to protect the PUBLIC.  Remember that they don't care about hospital or clinic politics or actions that could cost you your job.  So you can't say, "I didn't call Dr. Smith at 3 am because he always bites everyone's head off if you call him that late".  They don't care about that...their only question...did you call?   

Most of the time, what they ding nurse's for is WILLFUL failure to follow policy, refusing to take responsibility, and failure to advocate for the patient.  

Also, don't post anything about the case on social media, no matter how "private" you think it is...don't put on Facebook or Instagram even something vague, "Very sad day today" because they can and do search social media.  If you have your employer listed REMOVE IT and remove the city/state as well.  If you have already done this, delete them.  

Oh..and look up the laws in your state to see if it is a one-party or two party state.  If it is a one-party state I would record any conversation, save all emails, etc.  

I sincerely hope this works out for you.  Any of us can mess up.