losing your license?

Specialties Geriatric

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Specializes in ICU.

I have a question for all you experienced/informed nurses, how easy is it to lose your license? I just hear all the time " its my license" or " you better get out of there or you will lose your license." I am so afraid to lose my license but I honestly am not clear on what it is I am avoiding? Do the best job you can, I get that, but never make a mistake? To err is human. Would someone really lose their license if they made a medication error? I guess I am so afraid of the unknown. If anyone could share their knowledge I would appreciate it.

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Here is a link to the California BON website of accusations (not convictions) filed against RN's. Every nurse should read this occasionally to see why nurses may lose their license or have sanctions placed on them. If you click on the blue link, you can read the accusations. Some of them are sad, as errors have happened that result in the death of a pt. from something a simple as not realizing the monitor volume was turned down. This web site will give you an idea of why nurses may lose their license.

Board of Registered Nursing - Disciplinary Actions - October 2008

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

I read through some of the PDFs awsmfun provided. Interesting.

So far I'm seeing: theft, diversion, falsifying documents, locking someone in the dinning room.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Everything I've read on my BON's website is theft, diversion, and impaired nurses. And those impaired nurses are offered a treatment program, but those that don't agree to it or comply with the rules of the program are the ones that lose licensure. But if you see something very wrong happening and allow or even take part in, yeah I could see someone losing their license.

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

Here's a link to recent disciplinary action taken against nurses in Texas, my current state of residence. When you click on the link, you will see a list of names of nurses who have been disciplined by the Texas Board of Nursing withing the past few months. Click on the license number next to the name to read a detailed PDF of the events that led to the disciplinary action.

In addition, someone, such as a nurse manager, would actually have to refer your license to the board of nursing.

Notice of Disciplinary Action

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If you look at the very last case of suspension on the California Board of Registered nursing (the link was provided above) it involves gross negligence and a 1 year old died. It seems like it is much more than a mistake, more than one thing was done wrong, so I'm not sure if a medication error can cause your license to be suspended.

I know some hospitals have barcodes and things like that on medicines, so maybe if you still managed to give the wrong medicine they would be a little more upset.

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Please read your nursing practice act. Use that as a guideline to determine if you are practicing nursing accordingly or not. In addition to that there are the standards of care and the local and federal guidelines that pertain to the type of health care setting you are working in. No matter which way you look at it, nursing is a lot of responsibility.

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When it comes to an error the bottom line is going to be how much harm a person suffered as a result of the error. If a nurse is reported to the BRN then the BRN decides what disciplinary measures to take. If a person is seriously harmed could also be refereed to the District Attorneys office for criminal investigation.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

document! document! document! if it isn't written down/charted/signed/initialed, then legally, it was never done.

every nurse makes a meds mistake eventually. the nurses who scare the heck out of me are the ones who

say, "i've never made a mistake." or "i've never made a mistake and i never will because i'm too careful." every single nurse will make a meds error eventually. what counts is how s/he deals with it afterward. does s/he 'fess up and take full responsibility or try to pretend it never happened or try to thrust it on to someone else? what was the patient outcome? honesty counts for a great deal because it tells the employer a great deal about the employee.

divert and you will be caught eventually. ditto for coming to work drunk or otherwise impaired.

impaired doesn't just mean alcohol and illicit drugs. it also means rx meds and something as seemingly

innocent and innocuous as extra strength tylenol. it makes me fly! never before work for me.

you'll be fine. as you have worked longer, you'll relax.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

Totally agree with Toydemon10.

Also, I wish they had a Nurse Practice Act for Dummies. I find the document difficult to read.

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Here's a link to recent disciplinary action taken against nurses in Texas, my current state of residence. When you click on the link, you will see a list of names of nurses who have been disciplined by the Texas Board of Nursing withing the past few months. Click on the license number next to the name to read a detailed PDF of the events that led to the disciplinary action.

In addition, someone, such as a nurse manager, would actually have to refer your license to the board of nursing.

Notice of Disciplinary Action

Some of those cases scare me. I mean as in the case of Sandra Barber, I'm not sure if I'm completely understanding it, but it seems that all she did was move a patient with a mechanical lift, and the patient had no clothes on. While I know this is not "right", it just goes to show that sometimes there is a fine line that protects your license.

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Specializes in ER.

woooo u guys should read the 9th one down, about Beattie on the California link.. crazyyy how does a patient even let that happen!

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