What does he do?

Nurses General Nursing

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Over breakfast this morning a fellow nurse found out that the current LPN in-charge of one of the units in his facility is no longer registered with the State nursing board. It was discovered by one of the other nurses (not sure why this person even looked it up).

My question is doesn't facilities get updates when licenses expire? If this person is in-charge and signing a lot of documents does this mean the facility and this nurse is screwed? I mean doesn't this nurse know her license expired? Don't you get notices after notices to renew?

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

My state's BON website is full of people who have been cited for practicing without a license. The reasons for it not being discovered are numerous - including forged documentation of a license, changeover in management, poor management and a convincing individual who is good at getting people to trust them. I am just a student, so far from an expert, but I would think management needs to be made aware as this is a huge liability.

Nope, you don't get notice after notice. You're expected to know when your license is going to expire and to renew it.

Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

At my facility human resources keeps track of licenses with some type of database. So, the employee will get notices to renew, but in my state, the employer does not get any notice from the state board that someone's license is expiring or expired.

However, in this situation it depends on if that "nurse" is practicing as such. What I mean is I've heard of organizations that hire non-nurses to manage nursing units. While most (if not all) nurses do not necessarily agree with this practice, it is up to the organization who they want to hire to manage nurses and nursing units.

Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER.

It's on us to keep track of our license(s). As a courtesy, some managers will remind you in time to renew.

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
Over breakfast this morning a fellow nurse found out that the current LPN in-charge of one of the units in his facility is no longer registered with the State nursing board. It was discovered by one of the other nurses (not sure why this person even looked it up).

My question is doesn't facilities get updates when licenses expire? If this person is in-charge and signing a lot of documents does this mean the facility and this nurse is screwed? I mean doesn't this nurse know her license expired? Don't you get notices after notices to renew?

How in the world would a State know which nurses work at which facilities in order to give them a heads up that a license of one of their staff members has expired? IMO, it's TOTALLY up to each nurse to know darn well when the very thing that means they ARE a licensed nurse is due to expire...

Specializes in family practice.

Most states send a reminder when license is about to expire. Maybe this person moved and didnt receive the letter cos they never updated.

Now before i judge how long ago did this license expire because if it is the above reason then 2 months after expirations i would not lose sleep but if its going one year and such then the person sure knows their license has expired and should renew it unless they are practicing in a capacity that does not require the license. E.g they switched to being an RN

Places I worked had a file of the expiration dates of anybody with a certificate or license. They would send out ONE reminder about getting a new copy to them, but after that if the day came and went with no update, it was hasta-la-bye-bye. If they were nice, they'd not fire a person if they got the new copy to them in a fairly timely manner OR communicated with HR/DON about the status of getting the new one. :)

Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

In my state they send out a renewal app (to the address on the license) to nurses 3 months prior to the license expiring. Most of the facilities HR do keep track and do remind employees but it's not at all places. In the end no one will hold your hand and walk you to the mail box to submit your renewal app or push the button on the keyboard (renewing license via internet). ;)

Indiana wants everything online. And one notice is all you get.

Most employers know exactly when your license expires, and will ask for your update. They can check online with most boards these days.

Keep out of this, it may only make you look bad.

I'm not a nurse, yet, but relying on the state to remind you of when your nursing license expires would be like the state reminding you to renew your drivers license, wouldn't it?

It seems to me that if a person put in the work to become licensed, either as an RN or LPN, or even certified as a CNA, etc. that they would be sure to renew the license in time. I know the exact date when my CNA cert. expires, of course, I hope I'll have my RN by then :-)

One year I did not receive the reminder from my BON that my license was due for renewal. My NM asked me about it a few days before expiration (obviously they were keeping close track of this), but even though I raced home after my shift and sent in the form,I didn't get the renewal in on time. There was about a 3 day lapse between my license expiring and the renewal form being processed. I wasn't fired or even disciplined, but my shifts were canceled until my NM saw that my license was renewed per the online BON site. I missed 2 or 3 shifts and never let that happen again. Ever since then, however, I have dreams where I'm working and during my shift, I suddenly realize that my license has lapsed, my employer doesn't know, and I'm freaking out that I'm practicing without a license. But I'm in the middle of a shift, so I can't leave...it's a horrible dream, and when I wake up, my heart is pounding, and I'm so relieved to realize it's only a dream. LOL.

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