Do you personally know someone who has lost his/her license?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Do any of you personally know an individual who has lost his/her license to practice nursing or medicine?

Let me start. I once worked with an RN who was on my state's peer assistance program, which is designed to keep nurses employed who have had previous or current issues with addiction to drugs or alcohol. This nurse specifically had an addiction to hydrocodone. After the formal charges appeared on her license, no hospital in the area would hire her. Therefore, she had to accept employment as a charge nurse at a nursing home.

Unfortunately, she did not complete all the terms of the peer assistance program successfully, and her license was revoked a couple of years ago. She had not been a nurse for very long, and was youngish (in her 30s).

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No I don't. But once a year the BON sends out a list of actions and there are a lot of people on it.

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

No, I don't but it will be interesting to see the response to this question. It's frustrating for me to see LPN's in my state getting their license's back after convictions within a year or two and yet I worked for 19 years without blemish and now I'm fighting tooth and nail with the BON to be "allowed" to take a refresher course so I may return to nursing. Years ago, if you were a convicted drug felon - that was it, no more nursing for you. Now it seems in most states you go through some sort of program and wham back you go into nursing. Not sure if it's appropriate.

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Specializes in Emergency, CCU, SNF.

I worked with three RN's, two who had their licensed revoked. Stealing narcs, falsifying documents...had previously been reprimanded, one nurse was pretty new, the other had been a nurse for 20 plus years.

The third RN kept showing up completely tweaking one day and falling asleep during report the next. She was being random tested and going through an EAP process. She eventually moved to another state, so not sure what happened to her.

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Yes, Sadly i have worked/known two ppl who have lost their license to practice. One was a LPN that I went to school with, and passed boards at the same time with this individual. The other was a RN charge nurse who was convicted of causing a resident to pass by excessive use of morphine without a dr. script.

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I have worked with LOTS of nurses who went to rehab, being a former travel nurse. I think they all got jobs afterwards. It's quite sad.

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Yes. I know somebody who was given a verbal order to give a medication to an ER patient. Medication was given, adverse reaction occurred, doctor denied giving the order, nurse lost their license due to practicing medicine without a medical license.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.
Years ago, if you were a convicted drug felon - that was it, no more nursing for you. Now it seems in most states you go through some sort of program and wham back you go into nursing. Not sure if it's appropriate.

Why wouldn't it be appropriate? I don't think that's a fair assessment. Nobody would say that people with diabetes or depression shouldn't be a nurse. Heck, if that were true there wouldn't BE any nurses. Addiction and alcoholism is very prevalent in the healthcare community. These people are highly educated; why wouldn't hospitals take them on just because they had been treated successfully for addiction?

I went through rehab last year for severe depression and while I was there i met quite a few nurses and a few doctors who had consent orders for diverting drugs. We were all in a very intensive psych program and all of them were in at least 90 days, followed by a few months to a year in a sober living apartment. While there they have to work, volunteer, or go back to school 40hrs a week, submit to random drug/alcohol tests (at their expense, I might add), and participate in the program to the fullest. Every one of them were highly commited to the program and for several of them it was their last chance. THey are required to continue some kind of documented drug/alcohol program with drug testing 2-3 times a week for FIVE YEARS or more in order to keep their licensure. :eek: $$$

The BON has very strict standards for these nurses. I would daresay that a nurse who goes through such a program is probably more educated in the process and disease of addiction than almost ANYONE else,nurses and doctors included. ANd in fact, they are more sober than the average person--they CANNOT drink or drug EVER because the repercussions can cost them everything and they know it. The consequences of relapse can be severe--loss of licensure and turned out of their sober living facility. Some of them will even be sent to jail for violating the terms of their probation.

I have a great nursing support group which has many former addict/alcoholics and I really admire them. It's a very difficult disease to beat and the relapse rate is high. I think that anyone who is able to overcome the disease of alcoholism or addiction and can maintain their sobriety is deserving of a second or even a third chance.

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Yes, I know an RN who was fired r/t stealing narcotics for theirself. I'm not sure exactly the discipline, but I do know they are not currently practicing and their name is non existent on the state board of nursing website and disciplinary action list.

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I read about the troubles and restrictions on the license of the former DON who was stealing controlled meds from our facility. She was working in another facility in another county under restrictions. Now she is free and clear. The problems that got her in front of the board did not say anything about stealing drugs. I suppose she is free to steal from whoever is employing her today. Personally, I don't think that someone holding the position of DON in a facility should be able to steal drugs and get away with it. Yes, she was turned in and nothing happened.

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Sadly, I have worked with several who have lost their careers du to diverting drugs. Even more sadly, I have worked with two who were being given second chances and again failed. All of the ones I have worked with were very smart, very good nurses they just couldn't work in an environment where they had access to drugs.

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Specializes in HOME HEALTH.

yes, worked with a lady with over 20 years experience that lost her license due to narcs. had us all fooled.:eek:

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