Falsifying degree at work....

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I have a problem with a co-worker who insists on using "BSN" when documenting when she has an ADN/ASN. Is this not falsifying a medical document?? She does not have a bachelor's degree nor is she currently enrolled in a bachelor's program. Anybody else ever run across a nurse like this?? :confused:

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I checked with my state's BON. Falsifying her credentials--her representing herself as having a BSN when she doesn't have it--would be considered unprofessional conduct, and she could be subject to disciplinary action by the BON...and yes, the BON's statement specifically mentions educational records. So while some of you may not think it's a crime, I'm willing to bet that most BONs won't take the matter as lightly.

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I agree, It may go against her as to her "character" but not criminal.

There has been no harm done, no malpractice etc. so no attorney is going to get involved just because some nurse signed BSN instead of just RN....no crime.

As wooh just stated, of course no attorney is going to get involved just because she is signing with the wrong credentials. But if by chance she gets named in a lawsuit, it will be a big strike against her character and testimony.

Sorry babylady, I don't agree with you on this one. ;) If the lawyer finds out she is indeed not a BSN, it will go against her for belief on all of her documentation. That chart will be brought in to court and she will be asked if that is her signature, if she indeed is a BSN and if not, why is she signing as such. IF the case is relying on evidence based on documentation, it could harm her defense. We document what we did, why we did it and the effect to cover our butts. I do agree that if it is a med error, it probably isn't going to matter much. Personally I wouldn't want to take the chance.

SWS RN, I don't think anyone was suggesting a lawsuit based only on the BSN issue. :)

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

Oh I agree, It's apallling!

I am not suggesting in any way that it's acceptable and I know that the BON will not take it lightly, I was merely saying that it was not a criminal act--yet anyway.

s

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Maybe it isn't a huge legal risk - I don't know. But why take on any legal risk when it's so easy not to? All she has to do is NOT sign BSN, then she wouldn't have to worry about what the BON or courts might think of it.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

To the OP-

How well do you know this person? The reason I ask is that the reason behind her action can make quite a bit of difference in how to react to it While obviously no one should falsify their educational background, if she completed all the coursework and didn't get the diploma itself for some reason it's one thing, and (yeah I know the following is unusual ) there are people who have serious mental health issues and fabricate facts about their lives that they actually believe, and seem perfectly normal in every way.

Weird true story-- the principal at my stepdaughter's elementary school had been there for about 3 years when we enrolled her in kindergarten and she was fantastic. Best Parent Orientation and Back-to-School nights ever. She was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and really charming. We all loved her.

One day, in the local newspaper there was a little announcement that Mrs. G had stepped down because she had claimed to have a PhD, but really did have a Master's. She apparently fabricated an entire sister-school relationship with a school in Asia somewhere as well as attending non-existent seminars. To this day I can't understand why a person would do that when she did not need to! It was so upsetting, but people weren't angry, just puzzled and felt sorry for her. I guess that means there it's a type mental illness. But there were absolutely no hints of it. She and her husband moved away and we never saw her again.

I used to play bassoon. And I have a BSN (the nursing kind.) Maybe I should start signing as:

wooh, RN, BSN, BSN

:clown:

. .

:lol2: Do we need a thread about bassoon playing nurses? :p

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Maybe it isn't a huge legal risk - I don't know. But why take on any legal risk when it's so easy not to? All she has to do is NOT sign BSN,...

Not only is it easy, it's EASIER and even FASTER! :lol2:

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:lol2: Do we need a thread about bassoon playing nurses? :p

Can you imagine? Someone could suggest that bassoon be the minimum entry for nursing. The flames that would start!!:devil:

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Onc.
I've never seen ANYONE sign BSN or ADN. Just RN. Advanced practice nurses might put MSN or NP, but otherwise why would anyone put their degree on their documentation?

Yep. A BSN is not a license. And RN or LPN IS a license and what really matters when you're signing documentation. You can have a BSN and not be licensed. She really should be signing her name with an RN (unless she doesn't have one of those either...)

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

How about BSN Bassoon playing nurses with big Bazzooms?:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
How about BSN Bassoon playing nurses with big Bazzooms?:rolleyes:

:lol2:BSN Bassoon playing nurses with big Bazzooms who march in the Doo Dah Parade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ? :yelclap:

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How about BSN Bassoon playing nurses with big Bazzooms?:rolleyes:

You've met me? :lol2:

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
You've met me? :lol2:

Ba dump bump!

But isn't it hard to play the bassoon with those big bazzooms?:D

ps---I LOVE the DOO DA Parade...especially the marching accountant brief case carrying precision drill team!

But, then again, I also like mummers....go figure!

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