False reporting to BON

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello everyone!

I am a new graduate and sit for NCLEX next week. It was brought to my attention today that a former classmate who is very mentally unstable has made a report against me to the BON for harassment.

I befriended this girl because she is "different" and always seemed to have health issues or to be going through some crisis. Looking back it was likely do to wanting attention.

After some Facebook drama she created I decided to delete her and the next thing I know she is making false accusations that I would call her names and text her nasty things. Apparently she has been saying this to teachers and mentors as far back as 6 months ago. Which is disturbing because I cut ties with her only 2 days ago.

Im scared because I have never been mean to her and certainly never harassed her. I was always supportive and encouraging. I feel like she believes the lies she's telling.

She has made statements about her being suicidal and hearing voices etc.

This girl is mentally unstable and practicing as a nurse. AND accusing me of harassing her.

How do I go about handling this?

Do I contact the BON?

Do I ignore this?

feeling very concerned ... If she can do this to her fellow classmates what is she capable of doing to a patient who says something to upset her?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

You should not react to this person. Do not contact the BON. Only take action if they contact you.

How is this person "practicing as a nurse" if she has just graduated?

She was a cna and her place of employment orientated her prior to her taking and passing the nclex. She just wasn't allowed to pass meds.

She took the nclex and is now working as a nurse.

Specializes in NICU.

Without specific evidence I can't see the BON reacting at all. I think they have other things to do.

Hello everyone!

I am a new graduate and sit for NCLEX next week. It was brought to my attention today that a former classmate who is very mentally unstable has made a report against me to the BON for harassment.

Who is this pillar of knowledge and how can you be certain their "inside" information is reliable? I wouldn't necessarily trust anyone who encouraged third grade level fighting between two "friends".

A nurse coworker at one time worked in corrections and said he was frequently threatened with reports to the Board from inmates. He always followed up by calling and once was told that nine times out of ten, people who make these threats never follow through. You can call the Board to find out if any complaints have been made, but don't be surprised to find out that nothing has happened.

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I wouldn't worry too much about it; like someone else said, the BON has more important things to worry about. Just stay the crap away from that girl. Good luck on NCLEX!!! :)

get your own , and keep it current. good luck

Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..

Much ado about nothing.

Some things that crossed my mind while reading the OP:

1. I lost track of how many times you referred to her as "mentally unstable". Are you sure you were the "friend" to her you think you were? Or did you treat her like she was this week's charity work? No one likes being patronized and people who are having difficulties would rather be ignored than that.

I only ask because, I think she could perhaps be lashing out at you. That kind of behavior I described would have turned you into the bad guy in her mind. Never mind that you thought you were helping. If she got the impression you were being friendly because you felt sorry for her or some other thing, you can rest assured she resented it.

Her way of lashing out at you is to make drama for you. And you seem to have taken the bait quite enthusiastically.

Rest assured, the BON has no interest in mediating tiffs between former friends. Just because you're both new grads doesn't make it a nursing issue. As others have said, they have better things to do. Yes, her calling it harassment and bullying makes it seem as though it's something worth litigating but it is not.

2. Your source of information says she has been reporting you for this for a number of months. Yet, you make no mention of the school stepping in and having any conversation with you about it.

Now, where an academic setting is concerned, her complaints would have been taken as something worthy of action. But there was none. Because there was no action taken, one of two things must be true: 1. She never went to them so your sources gave you false information or 2. She went and they told her to go kick rocks with the childishness.

#2 above is what you should be doing, telling her to go kick rocks. Best way to do this is to refuse to participate in the childishness. Be done with her, move on.

If nothing else puts your mind at ease, the fact that this is not a nursing issue, hence the board will not get involved, should. The abuse/bullying would have at least had to have taken place while at work for it to be. You two are just a couple of girls having a (somewhat childish) tiff, it has nothing to do with nursing.

Freeze her out of everything in your life completely. I think what she's really done is alerted the board to her instability with this stunt. I personally would consult with my nursing attorney, listen to their advice and then explore going after her for a false report to the BON in court. Then again the time and money for me personally to do this is not an issue, but the person described by the OP is one I would find it worthwhile to go after in court and file a formal complaint with the BON if my attorney was in agreement.

Yes I refer to her as mentally unstable because that is what she is.

I didn't befriend her for charity work. She is manipulative and knows how to play people.

I figured that because it's not a nursing issue the Bon wouldn't take it seriously but I have no experience and do not know how they respond to reports like this. I'm just going to ignore it and her threats.

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

In my experience, it is best not to "friend" (in any way) an unstable person. You may want to help them, but they may want to harm you.

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