disciplinary nightmare

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2004

While I am in LPN school, my sister graduated the program in May and recently told me something similar. It's funny that I should come across this thread...

In the LPN class of 2003 a student graduated and was hired at a medical office. She was signing "LPN" after her name. Somehow or another she was reported and had to go to the BON NY and loss. Her story was that she was never taught. The school was contacted, and the instructors testified that students were indeed instructed on how to sign documents. :stone

This story was relayed to last year's students on their first day of Fall semester. I haven't gotten that far yet, so I don't know if we will hear the stories for ourselves, but I do know that even this early in the game they told us we are qualified to write SN after our names in clinicals, BUT NOTHING ELSE. After graduation we will be GPNs.

Anyhow, that's not to scare you, just to let you know that it does happen to other people. Perhaps you have a step-up because you have legal counsel and this board to give you good advice. :) I wish you the best. You ARE NOT stupid, and everyone makes mistakes. When you are a preceptor one day, just make sure you DRILL that concept into your student's head: "You are NOT an RN, yet!" :rotfl: Good luck, I'm praying for you.

Remember everything works out according to His plan for us!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 27, 2004

I have to say that I can now see great wisdom in my state board's decision to not recognize GNs. Hospitals here will not allow new nurses to begin working until they are presented with the actual license, and the job offer is contingent on producing the license.

OP stated, however, she was not even working in a nursing capacity at the time, but was still signing RN. Why?

This makes it unlikely, I would think, that medicare turned her in - she was not working as a nurse, employer was not billing for nursing services, therefore she had no part in any medicare fraud that may have occurred.

My school made it VERY clear that until your license is in your hands you ARE NOT an RN (my school pin said RN too, by the way, but you can buy pins that say RN at any uniform store - it doesn't make you one). I cannot even imagine any school not stressing this. What else did they leave out?

stbernardclub · Jul 27, 2004

Well, having read alot of the threads on this subject,I was just glad the regular sugar coaters were not here to say everythings ok, will be fine, your a good nurse.Anyone can say that,but how will that help you.I can tell you really did not know you were doing anything illegal. You may have questioned it in your mind, but you eventually made the decision that you were doing something ok by signing r.n.after your name.I agree will telling them exactly how you came to this decision to write r.n., always say that you learned a great deal from this. Learn as much as you can about the nurse practice act ect....and pray they do not come down harsh.I feel your pain,i swear my heart rate went up just reading your letters.Remember,everything happens for a reason.

bpowers · Jul 27, 2004

When we graduated we were told to write RNLP (license pending). Until we passed our boards and received our license in our hand we couldn't write RN.

I hope everything has turned out well with your case....any updates?

jemommyRN · Jul 27, 2004

When we graduate, we are supposed to write "RN app" meaning RN applicant/ applied for. She said that you could lose your license over this (when we get one). All I can say is that I hope everything turned out okay. Everything happens for a reason. Just be careful next time and if you are unsure, ASK SOMEBODY.

itsme · Jul 27, 2004

this thread is old- I wonder what happened to the op??

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 27, 2004

this thread is old- I wonder what happened to the op??

OP just posted again yesterday - apparently nothing has happened yet

hello again everyone....
just checking around and wanted to let everyone know the status....havent gone infront of the board yet....had my baby girl in april....my little angel!!.....but unfortunately this is starting up again.....i will let everyone know what happens...take care

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Oct 23, 2004

anyone know what happened?

avahsmiles · Oct 23, 2004

ooohhh and yes you misunderstood what i said about the licensed part.
i know there is not something called a lic. regi. nurse.....an lic'd practical nurse , yes
all i meant was we were not lic'd

rosie,

i'm sorry, just a little confused, but did you attend rn school or a practical nursing school? this would be really serious if you wrote rn after your name if you were really a pn.

wishing you luck and hope everything works out for you. :)

dansamy · Oct 25, 2004

Rosie,

Any word yet?

SoulShine75 · Oct 25, 2004

Did you sign RN to all of your documents or was it only some of them? This may be a factor because if you signed GN (graduate nurse) to some then they will know you knew your title. I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. Try not to worry so much and focus on what you ca do to make it right. Be positive and learn from your mistake.

Good luck,

Christy

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Oct 25, 2004

Wow...I didn't see this thread way back when! In my state they also do not hire you until you have that handy-dandy license in your paw. Are you still working? I know at our hospital if you are going to the BON for anything they pretty much kindly ask for your resignation. That is pretty serious. I still don't understand how you could have figured you were licensed without taking boards. That is pretty basic.