Fear of losing my license

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I recently quit a job with a SNF because of the practises of the staff. For example, after an unwitnessed fall, the nurse I was shadowing documented that he had performed neuro checks but never did them on the resident. Blood pressure was also taking in the dining hall (against HIPPA), and pre-pouring meds were done to save time. Whenever a resident asked to go to the bathroom, the nurses would say "well go ahead " and refused to help them or call a CNA. I quit after two weeks because I had a strong fear of losing my license. Now I'm jobless and afraid that all nursing homes are like this. By the way, I'm an LVN and most jobs here for us are mainly in nursing homes. I am also a new graduate so all these things really shocked me. I really don't have a question, just needed to vent. Thanks for reading!

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Specializes in Hospice.

No, not all LTC / SNF facilitate are like this. There are good ones out there. ( I work at one of the good ones.). And YOU would not lose YOUR license because of the inappropriate actions of another nurse, unless you witnessed it and did nothing and a patient suffered harm from the inappropriate action. When you saw these things, did you mention your concerns to the DON or other nurse managers?

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Most of the nursing homes I have worked in were "not good ones". However, I went to work anyway and did the best I could do. I have no control over the actions of other nurses. I cannot afford to be out of work. If you cannot afford to be out of work either I would suggest you try again at other nursing homes. You can't change other people just yourself.

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

The "losing my license" mantra is enormously overdone and exaggerated. Most nurses who have lost their licensure were involved in drug diversion, narcotic theft, impaired practice, and other issues surrounding substance abuse.

Nurses rarely, if ever, lose their licensure over sloppy or unethical patient care. In addition, after years of reading the disciplinary action pages published by my state board of nursing, the vast majority of nurses who have had licensing censures had been employed at hospitals, not SNFs/LTC facilities.

I think your fears of losing your license were/are irrational. There will always be people who practice nursing in a sloppy, questionable manner. However, what matters is how you practice and your professional conduct.

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Specializes in LTC.

I think your fears of losing your license were/are irrational. There will always be people who practice nursing in a sloppy, questionable manner. However, what matters is how you practice and your professional conduct.

TheCommuter has summed it up perfectly. Every nursing home has that "one nurse" that no matter what, still has a job (and their license). You need to worry about how you are as a nurse. You will not lose your license because of another person's actions (unless you were a part of it). Not all nursing homes are bad either.

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I have worked in long term care for 20 years. I am fortunate that I work for a very good company and our facilities are run very well. The only nurses I have ever seen that lost their license was for drug diversion. I'm not sure why many new nurses are fearful of losing their license - it rarely happens. Most states have a website or newsletter that lists nurses who have lost their license and why Take a look at that and it should put your mind at ease.

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The "losing my license" mantra is enormously overdone and exaggerated. Most nurses who have lost their licensure were involved in drug diversion, narcotic theft, impaired practice, and other issues surrounding substance abuse.

Nurses rarely, if ever, lose their licensure over sloppy or unethical patient care. In addition, after years of reading the disciplinary action pages published by my state board of nursing, the vast majority of nurses who have had licensing censures had been employed at hospitals, not SNFs/LTC facilities.

I think your fears of losing your license were/are irrational. There will always be people who practice nursing in a sloppy, questionable manner. However, what matters is how you practice and your professional conduct.

Thank you! I am so sick and tired of all this "omg I'm going to lose my license!" bs. I promise you that doctors do not obsess about this the way nurses do. If you are doing your job to the best of your ability, and are reasonably competent, you are not going to lose your license.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

No, not all nursing homes are like this. I did some agency work in nursing homes. Some were absolute pits; others maintained a high standard of care. You were right to get out of this one. Not out of fear of your license, but because you can't be part of that scene.

Keep looking; you'll find a decent place to work where you can take pride in the care you provide. And you won't have to scramble for a job when the place finally gets shut down.

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Specializes in Psych, Substance Abuse.

I once worked in an Assisted Living Facility and after I witnessed unethical behavior and brought it to the attention of the DON I was told I was not a good fit for the facility. That job was a joke anyway, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. 7 days a week because they were too cheap to hire per diem nurses. That was my first job as an LPN and I lasted 11 days, and almost every day the DON called and asked me to come in early. Good riddance, I said. Never did I fear losing my license.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

The nurses I know of who have lost their license abandoned residents in their care. It's not easy in Massachusetts to get your license yanked even for drug diversion.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I think the "putting my license at risk" is so overdone. If you go to work and do your job right, you should have no fear of losing your license. If you go to work and you get the supervisor involved in any issue you have at work, you should be okay. I always bring the attention up the chain of command and make sure I document anything that goes on and leave many FYI to doctors on their answering service. I try to cover my butt always. LTC is not perfect and it can't always be a good ratio for nurses since most patients are stable and just confused. Have confidence in yourself and do your best or start looking but most nursing home are run the same way

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Specializes in Huntingtons, LTC, Ortho, Acute Care.

More SNF or LTC or ALF or maybe even try home health. You gotta get your bills paid hun

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