Carry my license?

Trauma Columnist · Jun 21, 2006

In IL, we get a pocket card and a bigger certificate that I keep at home. I usually carry mine but have never been asked for it unless I know ahead of time.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2006

In PA, we too get a certificate and a wallet ID. The original certificate gets turned over to the hospital.

chrisapu · Jun 21, 2006

Thank you. I also heard from my school that you do carry around the ID card. I hope someone asks for it, because I would LOVE to show it off.

:monkeydance:

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Jun 21, 2006

In PA, we too get a certificate and a wallet ID. The original certificate gets turned over to the hospital.

I am also from PA (was, anyway) and the 4 places I worked did not require the original License, they accepted a photocopy. I do not carry the wallet ID. If my wallet was stolen, I do not want to make it easy for someone to pretend they are me and have my license number. (I know its easy enough to get someones license number, but I dont want to make it even easier.)

LADYFLOWER · Jun 21, 2006

Thank you. I also heard from my school that you do carry around the ID card. I hope someone asks for it, because I would LOVE to show it off.
:monkeydance:

Cute comment! I would feel the same way.

Jolie, BSN · Jun 21, 2006

In PA, we too get a certificate and a wallet ID. The original certificate gets turned over to the hospital.

This is one of my biggest pet peeves in nursing. When I moved to PA, I took a job in a small community hospital, and was told by the DON that I had to provide them with the original copy of my license to be held at the hospital. That didn't ring true to me, as every other hospital in every other state I had worked simply copied the license for their records. So, I checked with the PA BON, and my suspicions were confirmed. It is not a BON requirement, but a hospital policy. When I provided this information to my manager, she would not back down, and stated that without the original license on file in the nursing office, I would not be scheduled.

This bugs me for 2 reasons:

First of all, it is a control issue. Since most prospective employers insist on seeing one's original license, it was all but impossible to complete the interview process for another position without notifying my current employer that I needed my license, the reason being obvious.

Secondly, the nursing office at this particular hospital was like Grand Central Station, with people coming and going all hours of the day and night. Virtually anyone could have gone in there, helped themselves to a file cabinet, and walked out with a license in hand unnoticed. How long do you think it would be before someone discovered that a license had been stolen or misplaced?

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2006

I haven't read BON regulations on this topic, but my hubby works in another licensed occupation here in PA, and my understanding is that an employer is required to have the original of what PA calls the "display portion" of the license of its licensed employees, in a location where they are accessible to provide proof of appropriate licensure of the employees.

So the hospital has the display portion, you have the card, and the website www.licensepa.state.pa.us has the licensed professional's name and license number available to any and all. I don't see it as a "it gets turned over to the hospital" issue, just that any employer providing the services of a licensed professional, whether it's a nurse, physician, accountant or cosmetologist, must be in a position to show proof that those professionals are appropriately licensed.

Just my two cents, and I have no doubt that this varies greatly from state to state.