Discipline Against Instructor's License?

[Nikel]

Someone just told me (and then I verified independently) that one of the instructors at the school I'm hoping to attend has had her license revoked in one state (later reinstated) and had it put on probation in another state while the situation in the first state was being resolved and in yet another state she applied for and was denied her RN. This was all 5-10 years ago, so not very recent but certainly not ancient history.

I'm feeling like this reflects poorly on the school and caliber of education I'll receive there. Am I wrong? Is this common?

[AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP]

Is she a clinical instructor or a theory instructor? What was the reason for discipline? My developmental psych teacher had her license to practice as a clinical psychologist revoked all the way down to *Psych Tech* and was still teaching. I investigated her when her actions didn't match up-- and she was only a teacher for an online class!-- and found out she'd fabricated child abuse in therapy sessions that didn't exist, altered patient records, and lied under oath in one single custody case (meaning how many others had she done this to?). For me, it didn't matter because she was just teaching psych theory, not supervising my psych hospital rotation. So depending on the reason for the discipline of the nursing instructor it may or may not matter.

[caliotter3]

Just because someone screwed up, or was accused of screwing up, in their professional work, does not necessarily mean they will be leading students astray in the classroom or on the clinical floor. I would be more interested to hear about how good a nursing instructor they are.

[Nikel]

Just because someone screwed up, or was accused of screwing up, in their professional work, does not necessarily mean they will be leading students astray in the classroom or on the clinical floor. I would be more interested to hear about how good a nursing instructor they are.

That is true.

She is a clinical instructor. She is relatively new to the school (and teaching) so there is not a lot of feedback about her. What I've heard is neither glowing nor dismal. Her license was revoked for providing substandard or insufficient care, unprofessional behavior and failing to keep proper records...so...

In my current line of work getting your license revoked is a pretty big deal. I was/am unsure how much gravity it carries in the nursing industry.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I would take it more seriously than the previous posters.

In the example described by Apgar10, that instructor had a history of repeated violations that reflected atrocious ethics. I would not want an instructor whose moral character was so questionable. How could I trust her with something as important as my education?

I'd be very hesitant to entrust my education to a school that did not maintain high standards for its faculty.

[caliotter3]

Where I come from, employers often make allegations against people's licenses when they fire them, so I have learned not to take everything on the Board's discipline website seriously. Particularly when I see a slap on the hand for another type of infraction for someone that was known for stealing controlled drugs. The disciplinary process is only as good as those efforts made to utilize it. Cheap shot allegations that have a way of sticking, are not necessarily the mark of a poor performer. Time will tell if this instructor can cut it or not. I commend the school for giving her a chance to win back her good name.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

Maybe she did mess things us 5 - 10 years ago. How have things been since then? Has she learned from her mistakes? Has she provided good, safe pt care since then?

I think everyone deserves a second chance.