any nurses fighting for their license with BON?

Nurses General Nursing

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This is a scary story...my husband and i are both nurses...he in the ER and i am in the ICU.... there was a night that they had a confused and combative patient in the ER... i took 5 people to hold her down for a L.P...... positive for meningitis.......after that she calmed down and was sent to the ICU... during the transfer to the icu bed she woke up and became combative and trying to get out of the bed and hitting at the nurses.... my husband was trying to keep her in the bed and flat so the restraints that were ordered could be put on..... it was a rather wild scene ....... someone then called the board of nursing to report patient abuse..... well..... let me tell you it has been a nightmare..... his license has been suspended and a hearing is set for dec.... the board has bullied, tried to intimadate witnesses to change their testimony, rewritten witness statements and ask for them to sign the rewritten one they wrote..... we are amazed this can happen to good nurses..... one day you go to work...take care of your patients in what is some times a difficult situation and BAM your life is never the same.... it is also a sad state of affairs when fear rules the was you nurse... on any give day a nurse can be brought up in front of the BON.... ours is not a black and white profession....we work in areas of grey each day....... if we didn't love our patients there is not enought money in the world to make us do some of the things we have do every day...... sorry this was long.... i feel like i belong when i read the posts on this board.... feeling not alone in this craziness is a help.... any experiences with the board or words of wisdom would be welcome....thanks to all .....laura

My question too, who in the world reported him? Another nurse?

Hope everything works out okay.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
My first reaction to your post........Who was the person that reported this to the BON? Then my next ??? was......Why is the hospital not doing their own investigation and supporting your hubby?????

If it is any consellation, I reported non-licensed people giving meds and that us licensed personnel were encouraged to sign that we gave the meds. In the end, not a thing happened, except that I lost my job. The BON says you can't be dismissed for reporting stuff like this, but they did nothing to help me. Their reply was that I shouldn't be working at a place that allows stuff like that anyway. The BON did a lot of muscle flexing, but in the end, they did nothing. It was all smoke and mirrors and scare tactics.

There was a long and strong thread about CNAs giving medications, and to see that this was the end result for you is a sad way to continue a nursing career. Here you are trying to advocate for patient safety, and they basically slap you in the face. WHat a joke! I am sorry this happened to you.:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

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Specializes in OB/GYN,L&D,FP office,LTC.

I think the best advice is for your husband to contact an attorney.

The BON will have their attorney present at the hearing,your husband should NOT go before the board without consel.Try to take it one day at a time,I know you all are really stressed. Also,make sure you don't have too much discussion about the case at work,bbest to just discuss with attorney.

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i have been absent from this site because of all the things going on.... first you all must know....the BON is not a nurses friend.....they will twist and manipulate anything to make the case against a nurse stick....when they are thru with you, you will have a wound to your soul.....it is truly a life altering event....i do agree nurses need a board to look into nursing practice.... to keep the standards high....we all strive for that....i don't agree that they should be bullies and intimidate nurses into signing consent orders out of fear and lack of money.....this situation with my husband has cost us 20,000.00 to have a victory over the abuse charges against him..... the board will say they have "finding of Fact" at this point you have less rights than criminals........at this point you are already guilty and it is now up to you to prove your innocence....the fight to the full board costs 650.00 and hour for a trial, you have to pay their lawyers and your own lawyer...pay for all the witnesses and for us, they threatned us with another 20,000 in fines......how many single nurses support themselves and childern?....how could they ever fight the BON if their license was suspended.... no work...lost insurance.....the lawyer costs 450.00 an hour to defend them...God help you if you are innocent......what would happen to you if one day the mailman brought a letter saying your license was suspended...how would you feel to have your license suspended and the board never even spoke to you.... WELL....these are my "finding of facts" that what the board did to my husband was far worse than anything they accused him of.... when you have to lie, twist words and intimidate witnesses...how is that a finding of truth?....i do know that in life what goes around comes around.....that..... i take to heart....laura

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Just wanted to let you know that for what it is worth, you have my good thoughts. Have gone through something similar myself during the past several years (lawsuit by pt family), plaintiff has made my existence a living hell, along with his relatives, friends, co-workers even though the suit is now finished. The attorneys (for my employer, who has since fired me) stated unequivically that I could not get a restraining order (as if it would be useful anyway). And for some strange reason I find it impossible not to be treated "strangely" when I attempt to get work. Much more, but it would be too much disclosure for this site. My advice for any nurse in trouble---GET A LAWYER, (YOUR OWN LAWYER). Then at least down the road you won't be pondering why you are unemployed, in poor health, unemployable, a pariah in your own community, and having continuing issues with PTSD, as well as kicking yourself because you can't even file malpractice charges against the wonderful employer-provided lawyers who did not a damn thing for you. And yes, to this day, the plaintiff still stalks, harasses, intimidates, etc. And I can't do a damn thing against him or co-plaintiff, because I can't break the law. Well, enough about me. At least you and your hubby have each other as well as your family to offer emotional support. Contemplate that you may have to leave the area and start over if you have continuing existence problems like myself. God bless. And consult the NSO web site ( providers) for an advice article on finding nurse attorneys. They had an article one time about an assn called, I believe, TAANA, or similar, for nurse attorneys who represent nurses in trouble. Good luck.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

I've been following Laura's story on another forum and believe me it's hell to even read what they put this Nurse and his wife through. I have dealt with the boards in the past and you must protect yourselves when these issues arise. You can be doing everything just as you should but it only takes one person to see things differently. Just thinking "truth will prevail" is such a false sense of being when dealing with BON's. I had previously posted a link to a course that every nurse or nurse to be, should and must read!!! Protect Yourself! Defending Your License to Practice - online CE course for nurses, EMTs, paramedics, occupational and physical therapists - Wild Iris Medical Education It answers so many potential scenerios that most nurses have no clue that could happen to them. Be knowledgeable in the beginning can help from mistakes down the road. Keep hanging in there laura as there are alot of us behind you and praying. Congrats on your hubby's choice also to fight and continue fighting.

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Specializes in Research, ED, Critical Care.

Laura - has your husbands employer been of any assistance? Best wishes and hang in there!

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Specializes in Emergency.

Lawyer up now. While it may cost you out-of-pocket at this point, an attorney with experience in this type of ligitigation is crucial. I also don't believe that you will have to pay expenses for the other side if you win the case.

Best of luck to you both.

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One of the good reasons I am trying to get out of this profession.

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Unethical and illegal. It is illegal for anyone but the witness to rewrite statements and it's even worse that they are trying to get them to sign it! Get a lawyer! Keep records of everything. Let the witnesses know that this is illegal and not to sign anything without a lawyer present.

Good luck and keep us posted.

PRECISLY! I was told to rewrite a document, refused, was fired in retaliation, am now in court system sueing former employer. This healthcare field has turned into a mine field , if we nurses dont wake up and realize the tenative hold we have on our lisences AND our jobs, we will continue to be sucked down this spiral and we may become a victim as well, and those of you that think this will never happen to you......:uhoh3:
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My first reaction to your post........Who was the person that reported this to the BON? Then my next ??? was......Why is the hospital not doing their own investigation and supporting your hubby?????

If it is any consellation, I reported non-licensed people giving meds and that us licensed personnel were encouraged to sign that we gave the meds. In the end, not a thing happened, except that I lost my job. The BON says you can't be dismissed for reporting stuff like this, but they did nothing to help me. Their reply was that I shouldn't be working at a place that allows stuff like that anyway. The BON did a lot of muscle flexing, but in the end, they did nothing. It was all smoke and mirrors and scare tactics.

The hospital and LTC facilities are more than willing to have the nurse take the fall for their mismanagement, the days of the employer protecting the nurse is LONG over, dont be decieved. As for the BON doing the right thing, read the book "Patients, Pain and Politics" written by a former state board examiner,Mary Richards Rollins,RN BSN, a real eye opener.:angryfire
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