Can I lose license over f word?

[Angieadore]

I'm embarrassed to ask this question but want to offer some insight into my situation. I am a private duty nurse (L.P.N.) in Indiana and have been caring for my patient for over a year. The patients care takers have always rubbed me the wrong way but I stuck it out longer than I should have because of my commitment to the patient. Although things were never comfortable, they started getting much worse in the last few months that I worked in their home.

I started noticing when I took my patient on walks, that when I came back, my purse looked as if it had been gone through. On my last day of work in their home, I took a picture of my purse before our walk so I could compare it to what it would look like when we got back. When we returned, my purse was in such a different state (now on the floor when it was sitting on a table when I left), I didn't even need to look at the picture. I confronted the care taker who told me it was his house and he could do whatever he wanted with anything in his home. He also pointed to a nanny cam that was hiding in a plant and told me the camera would prove whether he was in it or not. I became upset because (this is really a much longer, more detailed story but I'm trying to spare you) I also had prior authorization to use their living room when they were not home as a lactation room. I had permission from my company and only did so when my patient was asleep. For anyone stuck on this in any way, my patient could not see me do this. So when he pointed out a camera, I felt even more violated to know they were filming me in such a private way without my knowledge.

I told the care taker of my patient "f--- you and your nanny cam." At this point, he had already told me to get out because he was upset that I confronted him about my purse so I said this on my way out, after I did my last assessment on my patient. I went directly to my company and told them what happened. They were actually very understanding because this family has went through roughly 15 nurses in one years time and my company knew they were very hard to work with. They would always find reasons they were unhappy and ask that each nurse not return. I was in their home the entire year that other "unsatisfactory" nurses (their words) cycled through.

In the last 2 months of me being in their home, I asked my company 4-5 times to put me on a new case due to how I was being treated on a daily basis but my requests weren't honored. If you are still reading, thank you so much for bearing with me and my long story. The patients family has contacted the attorney general regarding the swear word I said. They also made up many lies in their statement, which can be disproven. I am only worried that I could lose my license over cussing. Can anyone ease my worry? I can take a suspension, that wouldn't be the end of the world. I just want to sleep easier at night because I truly love my job. Do you think I will lose my license?

[RiskManager]

With all of my experience working with various BONs, I can tell you that if the BON took action on a complaint about swearing (A) they would have no time for any other cases; and (B) 97.2 % (this number may be low) of all nurses would no longer have a license. Don't worry about it. Substance use, diversion, stealing, boundary violations and serious breaches of the standard of care are what nurses lose their license over.

[Angieadore]

Thank you so much for your reply. I had a feeling I was worrying over nothing. And that's what my boss told me too, that no one would have a license if you could lose it for cussing.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Risk manager is "right on"

if you can not be re assigned, seek other employment

[ponymom]

Why the hell are you leaving your purse I n the house, with any family, much less one you're already having issues with, and that has a history like that? And always, always (always) carry out your duties as if there is a camera. You stayed way too long in that position.

Good luck in the future.

[Angieadore]

I just always felt like if they could trust me with their entire home while they were gone, I should be able to leave my purse in the home while taking my patient on a walk. I've done private duty nursing with several other families that were completely trustworthy. I refuse to live my life thinking in those terms. And girl, I am aware I stayed too long. I stated that. I knew they had a camera in the beginning but had a conversation with the female care taker a year ago who reassured me they only use it for the other nurses, because I was originally appalled that they knew I pumped in their living room. I just don't understand why she would lie to me when she knows her husband is the one who watches the security tapes. My company was short staffed and didn't understand the severity of my pleas. And after I suspected that they were going through my purse, I started leaving anything private or worth value at home. I was basically carrying my lunch and eighty million lip gloss:)

[aflahe00]

Absolutely not no way. Please take comfort in knowing that saying the f word will not cause anything to happen with your license. Never in a million years! If they could do that there would be a whole lot of nurses out of work lol.

[Icooka4u]

WOW! Like other's said you will not lose your license over that. Going forward, I would sign up with 1 or 2 other different agencies so if you're having a problem with one case, and that company won't accommodate, you can resign without having to worry about finding your next gig. Medicaid Private Duty Nursing has its cons, but the Pros I love are, if the client isn't a good fit for you, you can end the case. You get to decided which cases you will take.

[caliotter3]

Learn from this situation and next time don't allow it to get to this point. There was a point when you should have told the agency that you would not return. Like after the third request for a new case: "This is my third request for a different case since November. I will finish out the week, but the 15th will be my last shift in that environment. I hope you have another case for me by then." When you leave on your terms, you have less worrying to do about the repercussions.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I have worked PDN in homes where there were cameras we knew about & homes were there might've been cameras. The agency doesn't care about you. They care about the patient & keeping the patient & care takers happy.

I have never brought my purse to a patient's home. I don't care how comfortable I felt with the family. Just because you feel fine around them doesn't mean you truly know them.

[/username, BSN, RN]

I would have lost my license years ago...

[amoLucia]

I understand your feelings of violation. And considering the intimate, private nature of your pumping, he might be considered a "voyeur" and legally charged for voyeurism. Of course, he'll argue it's his house, but if he were viewing you in the bathroom from the outside in his yard, he' d be a 'peeping Tom'. He was getting his 'jollies' off by watching you.

Might you want to consider pressing charges AGAINST HIM? Unless you can get evidence of the nanny cam, he'll also deny its existence. You can bet though, he's prob done something like that in the past and will prob do it again in the future.

Why might you think you lasted so long in that assignment without 'peeper Tom' discharging you? Honey, you were his peep show.

And as for his wife, I'd bet she may be in an abusive situation or she may be in on the 'peep.

Good thing you're out. But I'd be the one pursuing charges. JMO

PS - your having pressed charges against him would likely strengthen any chance of BON activity (however unlikely) against you based on his charges. Just so it doesn't seem like a frivolous 'he said, she said' case. I wouldn't count on your employer to go to bat for you. They certainly won't want any bad rep.