Fingerprinting Texas Nurses

Brownms46 · Oct 23, 2003

I'm sorry but are you talking about the board doing it or who?

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2003

The laws in Texas are very restrictive and intrude on the privacy and rights of individuals, but not on corporations.

Any nurse can get put on a Group One list at the whim of a supervisor.

We all know that supervisors and ADM often turn against nurses for speaking up about substandard pt care, staffing or poor working condidtions.

And, Texas does not require workman's comp. I was injured on the job last year. I went to an ER was and treated.

The company I worked for refused to pay the bill saying that I did not fill out an incident report, and that I did not go to their "approved" ER. I had filled out a report, they lost it.

So, I xeroxed my copy and gave it to them. I also told them, that in direct contradiction to their own company policy, I did not receive any orientation to the job or any written materials pertaining to work policies or procedures. Had the company provided me with any of this, which I requested several times, I might have known which ER was "approved" by them.

I was in no shape to find out right after the injury, as I was bleeding all over the floor and in pain.

They refused to pay the ER bill. I have contacted several lawyers, but they have told me that employers in Texas can get away with not paying for tx of on-the-job injuries, because Texas employers are "self regulating" and are not required to carry workman's comp.

Texas is a very conservative state, and I am not surprised by their Big Brother approach with nurses.

However, dialysis techs here are not required to have any formal education , training or certification. They are permitted to give IV normal saline to pts on dialysis at will, and to give IV heparin.

Brownms46 · Oct 23, 2003

I'm lost here, and I have a Texas License! What is Group One??

mattsmom81 · Oct 24, 2003

HelllloNurse, I didn't know you were in Texas!! Sounds like we've worked at the same hospital...also had a work injury and was blown off like you were. I too am tired of the big business/anti worker environment here...am originally from a union state and it is getting to me...

Brownie, we've discussed Group One before on the regular forum but lots of folks don't seem to believe how powerful it is here. I guess we don't know til it happens to us or a friend. It's a background check organization...essentialy a dirt collector on nurses. It is affiliated with our hospital association in DFW and is protected as a third party "consumer credit' organization.Like Helllo referred to, a nurse can find herself essentially blackballed by a vindictive manager. If a nurse is fortunate enough to find out she has a 'Group One black mark', she can send for a copy and deal with it (rebuttal is allowed). Now it may be fairly benign, she might post a rebuttal, but STILL not get called for interviews...so I suspect there is more to what they are saying behind our backs. Posssibly this nurse is vocal and a troublemaker? A union proponent? Had a work injury? Who knows..

Now our BON will mandate fingerprinting for all nurses. This concerns me. It's like we are criminals or something...plus I don't like all this government intrusion into our personal lives. Just me.

Maybe I'm overreacting to the fingerprint thing. I know other states require this. Just wanted some other opinions to ground me a bit if I am...LOL!!!

Nice to visit with other nurses in this area!!! :)

JuicyJem · Oct 24, 2003

I had no idea about Group One, never heard of them!!! I will be working in DFW after graduation, I guess its good to know about. We had to be figerprinted at school to apply to take boards and for our licenses. They said one copy goes to the FBI and one to the DPS. Interesting...........

mattsmom81 · Oct 24, 2003

Originally posted by Hellllllo Nurse
dialysis techs here are not required to have any formal education , training or certification. They are permitted to give IV normal saline to pts on dialysis at will, and to give IV heparin.

Just another UAP functioning under someone with a license...

So much time and energy goes into regulating nurses...and look at what facilities get away with...it's a crime.

mattsmom81 · Oct 24, 2003

Originally posted by JuicyJem
We had to be figerprinted at school to apply to take boards and for our licenses. They said one copy goes to the FBI and one to the DPS. Interesting...........

Wow! It's started already! :eek: Did it bother you guys??

Guess TPTB thinks nurses are a subversive group eh? :rolleyes:

And while I try not to be a rabid conspiracy theorist, it does concern me what can be done with fingerprints....by someone with a motive and means. And the authority bucker in me resents being given one more mandate.....

:devil: I know this is probably being monitored as we speak...LOL!

:roll

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2003

Originally posted by mattsmom81

I know this is probably being monitored as we speak...LOL!

:roll

Florida already requires fingerprinting for nursing licenses.

JuicyJem · Oct 25, 2003

The fingerprinting was kind of a shock, but most of us didnt think twice about it. (we already get treated like criminals by some of our instructors anyway :):) Just kidding...........I've only worked in a hospital for about 2 weeks and besides that have no other experience so I couldn't really relate it to anything. I'm sure that when I become an RN I will understand more of the issues that go on. :)

txsugarlvn · Oct 29, 2003

I took my boards for my LVN license back in 1995 and I was required to give my fingerprints when I went to test. So was everyone else that was testing at the same time.

I think the state is requiring fingerprints because of the issues that have come up regarding patient safety and care. There have been stories of patient's dying at the hands of the nurse and the nurse working under a false license so someone else gets the blame until the truth comes out about who the nurse actually is, etc.

My husband agrees with the "big brother" situation that you all talk about. I do not. But where do you draw the line? I mean, where do you say "That's enough info". For each instance, an example for and against it can be brought up to defend each side.

I agree with the fingerprinting of nurses. The lives of patients are in our hands (both LVN's and RN's) every day.

As for the dialysis techs, I agree with the original poster. They shouldn't be allowed to administer ANYTHING via IV or meds in general. They aren't trained for it. I've worked dialysis and it was a 2 week training course for all involved (RN's LVN's and Techs) and techs are allowed to administer heparin via iv (which they draw up themselves) and normal saline as they deem fit when the patient seems to need it or to flush the lines.

Craziness!

smk1, LPN · Oct 29, 2003

i was just wondering if it is ALL staff being fingerprinted or just nurses. If their rationale is for protection of the patient, then doctors, resp therapists, techs, cnas, physical therapists, etc should all be fingerprinted. This happens in schools everyone has to be fingerprinted all the way down the line and even the school bus drivers. If only the nurses have to be fingerprinted it is almost like a form of discrimination. I would have to comply obviously but i would be greatly offended.