Has your Nursing License ever been in Jeopardy?

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  1. Has your Nursing Liscense ever been in Jeoprody?

    • 96
      Yes
    • 132
      No

228 members have participated

This months survey question:

Have you ever been put in a situation in which you think your license could be in jeopardy?

This months survey question:

Have you ever been put in a situation in which you think your license could be in jeopardy?

:uhoh3: This survey question made me think of something different than most of its replies. I almost voted yes...that my license had been put in jeopardy....but then I was reading about problems with drugs. I don't do drugs....that wasn't what I was thinking about. But yes...my license was put in jeopardy...not by a nursing board...but an impossible hospital situation on a travel assignment. The worst hospital I was ever sent to in my life was in the midwest. It was in a predominately black neighborhood, most of the CNA's and patients were African American. The hospital staffing was HORRIFIC. I was on a telemetry unit. It was a very large unit...about 60 beds. And only 4 nurses for the entire unit at night. I had critical patients, many on nitro drips, or whatever. The worst problem at this place is that the CNA's didn't help the poor nurses who were frantic running around, sweating like crazy...the stress was unbelievable. The reason I heard was that one of the CNA's had been promoted to watching the telemetry monitors....and while they were watching she feel asleep and a patient coded and died. Well, the hospital fired her. She sued the hospital citing that she was fired for race not for incompetence and she won over a million dollars! When the word got out about this....the other CNA's got outragiously lazy (they sat around and gossiped in patient wheelchairs while call lights where going off all around them and the nurses were running like crazy. One night they were even playing a game of checkers!) I couldn't believe this, and often when I politely asked for help....I was refused! Not only was this a problem, but they had an incompetent LPN working on a prior shift that didn't chart all the medications given, and didn't know how to read telemetry strips on a tele unit! So I usually began my shift cleaning up prior messes. I spoke with management who refused to get involved. I spoke with the other nursing staff who also were dealing with the same problems but management wouldn't help. On the night shift we would get slammed with admissions because this hospital only had two floors to send them too. And with only 4 nurses for 60 beds...you do the math. The hospital refused to increase staffing but would continue to admit as long as they had beds. One of their fellow hospitals was unionized because of this and one of the regular staff nurses quit while I was there because of this. Well, on one particular night...I had just received my thirteenth patient! We are talking about total care patients, some on critical drips while others were just total care (restraints, tube feeds, etc). And I was doing PRIMARY NURSING! (IE: no help!) I did something I had never done before....I called the nursing supervisor and told her that even though my floor still had more beds, my license and my patients safety were at risk and that I was refusing to take any additional patients during that evening. Well, needless to say, speaking up with management about their problems and refusing unsafe patient loads didn't make me the most popular traveler there....but their nursing staff enjoyed working with me because I was a hard worker and cared about patients. I wasn't asked to renew that contract, nor would I have ever considered it. I celebrated the day I finished out that assignment as all I was trying to do was stay safe when placed in unsafe situations. Was my license at risk. Hell yes! So were the patients wellfare. An end note....I heard later that this hospital closed down. However, this experience did give me a whole new list of questions to ask for future job assignment interviews as you never know what the situation will be as a traveler...best to ask as many questions as you can up front. By the way, on that job interview the manager lied and told me my maximum patient load would be 7-8 patients but when I got there I found a completely different story. So that is what I thought you meant when you asked if your license had ever been in jeapordy.

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I am so sorry you went through all of the problems that you did. Nursing has become so dangerous, I don't want to be in it anymore. Too bad, b/c I need the money and have to find other ways to earn it. But the risks are just too much, I don't want them in my life anymore. I was so, so proud to be a nurse when I was young. I was always a good nurse too. But things are not what they used to be, nursing has changed into a devil of a job. It was always hard work, but the new reality is that nurses are risking their necks out there just to earn a living. And the State BON is not helping us by their witch hunts. It's true some nurses should not be nurses. But when people can frame other nurses, or write up vindictive lies and the board believes them - it's just too much, just too dangerous

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I am so sorry you went through all of the problems that you did. Nursing has become so dangerous, I don't want to be in it anymore. Too bad, b/c I need the money and have to find other ways to earn it. But the risks are just too much, I don't want them in my life anymore. I was so, so proud to be a nurse when I was young. I was always a good nurse too. But things are not what they used to be, nursing has changed into a devil of a job. It was always hard work, but the new reality is that nurses are risking their necks out there just to earn a living. And the State BON is not helping us by their witch hunts. It's true some nurses should not be nurses. But when people can frame other nurses, or write up vindictive lies and the board believes them - it's just too much, just too dangerous

Yes...I agree with you that nursing has become so dangerous...but not just because of the unsafe staffing experienced as I mentioned above. But also due to our risks for infection. I have spent the past year in a difficult recovery after obtaining a very virulent staph (MSSA) infection from a patient I was caring for in the ICU via an unknown paper cut in my finger. I was in critical condition...septic and in the hospital for weeks, unable to turn, stand or walk. The staph entered my SI joint resulting in sacral osteomyletis. I spent two months on IV antibiotics and extreme high doses of narcotics, followed by months of dragging my right leg and ambulating with a walker. I was on such high doses of narcotics that everytime I decreased I experienced horrible withdrawals....but I've continued to work hard in physical therapy and work towards pain managment. I'll limp and have back pain for the rest of my life...thanks to working as a nurse. I've spent the entire year fighting for my health, my workman's compensation and disability compensation rights. I have not been paid a dime and have encurred huge financial expenses, lost my savings and my house as a result. My attorney has had several clients who were nurses that were all denied their benefits. It's too easy for the insurance companies to point the finger elsewhere and force the nurse to fight for their rights and the nurse then has the burden of proof and the expenses in order to attempt to obtain them. Yes.....I can TOTALLY understand why you say nursing is so dangerous and don't want to do it anymore. It is one of the most undervalued, underpaid, and overworked professions out there. But not to be totally negative....it is also one of the professions with the most opportunities for change....and if you don't like one area of nursing there are several more to choose from. I'm currently still totally temporarily disabilied but determined to regain my ability to work as a nurse...and I'm exploring my options in nursing as I really don't think I can face working in a hospital anymore after what happened. I'm too scared....the super bacteria we are fighting are too strong these days and many are resistive to our available antibiotics. One out of ten people still die from the staph infection I obtained as a healthy individual with no prior health conditions. Nurses are way underpaid for the education and experience required along with the daily risks and stress we undertake. I have plans to work for a few more years as a nurse then I'm done. I tell my husband all the time...I'm retiring early...we have to plan on it. He says I don't have to work as a nurse anymore....but what else can I do with my degree?

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moving[/url'>along]How true your words are. Someone put drugs in my purse, Darvon, Liorisel, and Haldol. A total of 5 drugs. Now you know I was really after that Haldol, dern! This happened in 1992. They decided to suspend my license in 1995, but I was never notified of it. Of course, I never went back to nursing after that Incident, it was like l933 Nazi Germany. One day they knock on your door and take you away on the say so of an LPN and a CNA.

The curious thing is that in the police report, the accounts to the police and the board, no one ever "saw" me do anything. They even admitted to searching my purse and calling the police. I thought that was kind of illegal of them. I thought only law enforcement agencies could only do that for probable cause. I was released, the case was Nolle prosequie, (dropped). No one would sign the arrest report. I went for unemployment insurance and was granted it. No one from the accusing facility showed up to testify against me.

But to this day, it is still SUSPENDED. For something I did not do. So the BON is definitely above the law. Right up their on the internet was my name. The Board would not give me information I asked for, like what addresses did they supposedly send me all of this information. So many discreapncies and facts that were not backed up with facts.

The BON very generously allowed me to reapply for my license as long as I told the employer I was on probation. Don't you know the employers would be beating down my door to hire me?

I don't know about other BONs but this one sure did not have to be accountable for anything.

Maybe I would have been better off if I was an impaired nurse.

mv

thats the thing that makes me mad... you can get help, keep your job, etc if you admit you are an addict of any kind, but if someone lies about you, or you make a mistake due to understaffing and unsafe patient loads, your out on your butt. its not right.:angryfire

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I voted yes, not because I've ever done anything to put my license in jeopardy (such as divert narcotics, neglect patients, not act as a prudent nurse would...), but because I've been put in situations that were unsafe. I've felt my license was in jeopardy on more than one occasion at a particular facility due to unsafe staffing levels, no ancillary help, inadequate training, etc.

I resigned, and felt great about it.

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I'll just tell you my situation. Four years ago, I received a DUI. I completed my probation set by court without problem. I received no disiplinary action from the State Board of Nursing in that state. I moved to another state to be with my family. My fingerprint scan came up with the DUI arrest. It has been hell to receive my liscense in this state. I went to an evaluation set up by the State Board of Nursing. The evaluator decided that with my family history that I had at high risk for being dependent. In order to practice in this state the board put me on 1 year probation, requires random drug testing, weekly nurse recovery meeting, weekly AA meetings and close supervision by my supervisor at work. They have also limited the amount of hours I can work, require that I receive prior approval before leaving the area, eg. a vacation. It seems that the State Board holds alot of power, taking control of even time that would not interfere with a job. Drugs have never been a problem for me. I have not drank for at least 3 years, The DUI scared me, and I feel that I am being punished for a situation that "could occur" given my family history. Has anyone else had simular experience or comments?

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Yes, my license was in jeopardy, for unpaid state taxes. Long story, but my soon-to-be-ex did not file or pay state or federal income taxes for 4 years. I was not aware of this as he had given me the forms to sign each year. Then one day I get a court order that my license will be suspended for unpaid taxes. I scrambled around, got an accountant, filed separately, paid my taxes, and was able to keep my license. Interesting that the state would take away my livelihood for financial problems. But thank goodness the state did not penalize me for his unpaid taxes! The IRS is a different story, but at least they don't seem to want my lisence. :uhoh3:

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thats the thing that makes me mad... you can get help, keep your job, etc if you admit you are an addict of any kind, but if someone lies about you, or you make a mistake due to understaffing and unsafe patient loads, your out on your butt. its not right.:angryfire

This is true, sadly. I have a handful of nurse friends who were setup and submarined...they were good nurses who didn't deserve the treatment they got, but someone was very careful in their vindictiveness, so they got railroaded. :(

I guess if I ever get railroaded like my friends have, my best hope for continuing my career is claim addict status, and at LEAST I'LL GET A CHANCE.

:stone

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In 10/1999 I received a deferred sentence to a plea of Nolo Contendre to a single count prescription alteration charge, this being an RN for 14yrs and having no other offenses on my record- not even a DUI, the state of infraction BON nor the state Court took no actions to affect my license, as I have three children and a wife, also an RN whom I took the fall for in the crime, when I came to Oklahoma in 2001 and the charge popped up and "bing botta boom," my license was suspended, I was ordered to attend 34 day inpatient treatment and it took me 1 1/2yrs of sober living and working at Ozzies airport diner to receive my RN license, of which I was still placed in PEER assistance for 2yrs, the inhumane portion is that after all that the State of Oklahoma BON still submitted my name to the Office of Inspector Genreal's Office Exclusionary list, try to find a job when you can't work for a medicare or medicaid funded entity, I'm now divorced, behind on childsupport payments and selling doors and windows for Home Depot, if you would submit your story to Oprah Winfrey or any media you have the time to contact, someone needs to wakeup this society to the plight of the healthcare worker who is honest enough to admit their mistakes/weaknesses- correct them and still have their lives and the lives of their children destroyed by a senseless agency, of which a truely decent/consciensous society with any dignity would have their conscience shocked for all moral and humane purposes. Good Luck

I'll just tell you my situation. Four years ago, I received a DUI. I completed my probation set by court without problem. I received no disiplinary action from the State Board of Nursing in that state. I moved to another state to be with my family. My fingerprint scan came up with the DUI arrest. It has been hell to receive my liscense in this state. I went to an evaluation set up by the State Board of Nursing. The evaluator decided that with my family history that I had at high risk for being dependent. In order to practice in this state the board put me on 1 year probation, requires random drug testing, weekly nurse recovery meeting, weekly AA meetings and close supervision by my supervisor at work. They have also limited the amount of hours I can work, require that I receive prior approval before leaving the area, eg. a vacation. It seems that the State Board holds alot of power, taking control of even time that would not interfere with a job. Drugs have never been a problem for me. I have not drank for at least 3 years, The DUI scared me, and I feel that I am being punished for a situation that "could occur" given my family history. Has anyone else had simular experience or comments?
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First, you don't want to claim addiction, if there is no addiction, so many of these posts are the essence of my plight, Please read my story entitled " Down and Dirty in The Oklahoma State Board of Nursing " on this forum, written back in july of 2004, there is so much blind/unbridled power/authority given to a state government entity, such as the board of nursing in every state, that it is looking so much the way Nazi Germany started back in the 30's, so many people put this type of thinking to the wayside as being Alarmist and Chicken little ( the sky is falling ) I'm sure many did so back in the 1930's also, and before it was over over six million innocent lives were lost, someone needs to create a private watchdog committee to oversee the actions of each and every state board of nursing actions, and create a blacklist of those states not to endanger your children or your careers in, hmmm, Food For Thought, Good Luck. 's with wolves.

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I related to all of your post, my license is on probation for 5 yrs. for a pain pill addiction that I self reported. I am having a hard time getting a job, I have been clean for 14 months and am a good nurse. I felt so shameful of my addiction that I just aggreed with whatever limits the board was willing to give me. I now plan to get an attorney and fight to at least lift some of the limits. I feel that the state board should not have the right to discipline any license due to unpaid taxes. I would strongly encourage anyone with issues with their state board to hire an attorney. They can only abuse their power if we allow them too.

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I related to all of your post, my license is on probation for 5 yrs. for a pain pill addiction that I self reported. I am having a hard time getting a job, I have been clean for 14 months and am a good nurse. I felt so shameful of my addiction that I just aggreed with whatever limits the board was willing to give me. I now plan to get an attorney and fight to at least lift some of the limits.

A word of caution in questioning this and challenging them with a lawyer..

you will be labeled as a person in denial, or unwilling to do what they ask. They may watch you closer and with ANY infraction label you as nonclompiant and you could totally lose your license. 5 yrs is a lot, but I believe it is standard in some states, FL is one. Do you know what your states norm is??

feel that the state board should not have the right to discipline any license due to unpaid taxes. I would strongly encourage anyone with issues with their state board to hire an attorney. They can only abuse their power if we allow them too.[/quote

The states BON is a part of the state government, and they do have the ability to not issue you a license if you do not follow federal rules, ie, filing taxes. If you do not repay your student loans, you are likely to be on the OIG's list that bans you from the whole healthcare field. ALso, if you are listed as a dead beat parent, in my state, they don't renew.

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