Can I escape my checkered nursing past?

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Hello! This is my first post to allnurses, but I have reference this site often as a guest. I received a reprimand on my nursing license a couple years ago, because I walked out of my job without notifying my supervisor (I only told an aide) that I was leaving sick.

This happened right before I left for Officer Training School for the military, so I have been with the Air Force since the reprimand was put on my license. I am a great nurse, have always had a strong work ethic, and believe that my supervisor who called the BON did it for personal reasons. And I also believe that a reprimand is pretty harsh for what I did, considering it will NEVER come off... I want to separate from the military next year. Frankly, I don`t want to deal with explaining my `Scarlet letter` in the future, nor do I feel like I should have to be punished and have difficulty getting a job for the rest of my working life.

I still like working in healthcare, but I want to use my GI bill to get out of nursing. I currently have my BSN. Besides an MSN, does anyone have any ideas on what would be a good transition? I was thinking PA or maybe even dental school, but I am open to all ideas. Thanks so much for any ideas you have.

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I think walking off the job and only letting an aide know qualifies as a pretty serious offense. Who was supposed to be looking out for the welfare of your patients?? An aide is not capable of functioning in a nursing role. I'm pretty sure this would qualify as patient abandonment as you did not ensure that your patients were handed off to another willing and qualified staff member. I could imagine being fired for doing this.

What if one of your patients had coded? Yes, your co-workers would have responded and handled it, but it would probably be a mess of confusion when everyone is looking for you for answers (PMH, recent events, etc) that could help determine the cause of the arrest and the appropriate treatments to give the patient the best chance of survival. In my opinion, this is unexcusable , sick or not, and I honestly don't think that you can make it sound justified to a future employer no matter how you spin it.

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Walking off the job is so wrong. Telling an aide is not acceptable. The fact that you see nothing wrong with what you did is even worse. I wouldn't trust you to care for a pet rock.

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I think walking off the job and only letting an aide know qualifies as a pretty serious offense. Who was supposed to be looking out for the welfare of your patients?? An aide is not capable of functioning in a nursing role. I'm pretty sure this would qualify as patient abandonment as you did not ensure that your patients were handed off to another willing and qualified staff member. I could imagine being fired for doing this.

What if one of your patients had coded? Yes, your co-workers would have responded and handled it, but it would probably be a mess of confusion when everyone is looking for you for answers (PMH, recent events, etc) that could help determine the cause of the arrest and the appropriate treatments to give the patient the best chance of survival. In my opinion, this is unexcusable , sick or not, and I honestly don't think that you can make it sound justified to a future employer no matter how you spin it.

Not just "I'm pretty sure it would qualify" -- what the OP describes is the classic definition of patient abandonment and, BTW, OP, is one of the worst things an RN can do as far as BONs are concerned (for good reasons), which is why this is going to follow you the rest of your career, and probably into any other healthcare career, as well. But maybe if you're starting over in a new discipline, it won't matter too much. Best wishes ...

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Walking off the job is so wrong. Telling an aide is not acceptable. The fact that you see nothing wrong with what you did is even worse. I wouldn't trust you to care for a pet rock.

Yes, actions such as this speak volumes as to one's character. I don't quite understand how this decision/action fits with a great work ethic.

Hopefully you've learned something from this, but it doesn't sound like it. Not to be harsh, but please consider a career where your poor judgment doesn't have the capability to produce disastrous results for another human being.

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Specializes in Critical care.

Criminal acts aside (assault, homicide ,etc) leaving without proper relief is one of nursing's cardinal sins. I think that a first step to continuing any career where the public trust is a concern would be for you to truly understand why this was such a big deal. As far as being reported to the BON, my opinion is this circumstance is EXACTLY WHY reporting channels should exist.

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Specializes in Pedi.

Your supervisor reported you for patient abandonment and you think she did it for personal reasons? This is a pretty serious offense and the fact that you don't realize nor do you take responsibility for it speaks volumes as well.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Okay options for you that MIGHT work:

1. Doubt PA as they will be looking at your RN licensure history also.

2. Ditto for dental school.

3. Maybe look into a legal career?

4. I think before I would invest time and energy in another career field, check out what hospitals will say to you with this issue? That might point you in the right direction.

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I am a great nurse, have always had a strong work ethic, and believe that my supervisor who called the BON did it for personal reasons. And I also believe that a reprimand is pretty harsh for what I did, considering it will NEVER come off...

It sounds like you resent being held responsible for walking off the job.

Calling it 'personal' sounds just a tad narcissistic. A 'personal' vendetta against you, versus you abandoning however many patients you were responsible for. Seems like something basic is missing in your sense of what being a nurse IS. This wasn't the first or last time similar events have happened.

I'd say go ahead and use your GI bill for another career. Not everyone is cut out for nursing. If anything, a nurse's personality needs to a little on the too responsible side than the irresponsible side. Having the background in nursing could be built upon with your GI bill money, but try out an area without direct patient care, that will be more suitable for your temperament.

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Whether or not you can or want to, change your behavior in regards to abandoning your patients, the fact remains that this will always be a black mark on your nursing license. Were I to guess, I would think that future employers would have less of an inclination to hire you than someone with documented substance abuse problems. We all know how hard those people have it. Reality probably dictates that you find a new line of work outside of patient care. Some blows we just can't recover from. Best wishes.

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You were very fortunate to have simply received a reprimand. In my state you would have lost your license to practice. A career change out of health care sounds like your best option.

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I am still amazed the military has not disciplined you or even accepted you with this mark on your record . You seem to not realize the seriousness of this situation. This will never go away

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