Help with board complaint

Nurses General Nursing

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I am wondering if anyone has experience with something similar. I am a RN in Mississippi. My boyfriend told me last night his wife informed him she filed a complaint against me to the BON for unprofessional conduct due to our affair. He is still married but they are separated. We work together and live together now, but his wife found out about our affair a month ago and filed for divorce about 3 weeks ago against him citing adultery. We met at work and started seeing each other at work while he was still married but he has told me they were separated. My question is, will the BON actually investigate this complaint? It has nothing to do with my nursing license so I don't know how it can be viewed as unproffesional conduct. I realize dating someone who is still married is not the best thing, but I did not know it could affect my career as a nurse. He is also a nurse and we are not in management and neither of us supervise one another. Any advice or experience is appreciated.

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

It might be wise (given that there is a moral turpitude clause in almost all our contracts, and given that your state recognizes adultery as such) to find a lawyer with experience in license defense in your state. It would probably be worth the $300 an hour (or whatever) to seek an opinion.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

BONs take any complaint made against a nurse seriously, so they'll likely look into it somewhat. Now whether they will take action against you is another story. They may...or they may not. If you live in a state where a betrayed spouse can file an Alienation of Affection lawsuit against you, then that might definitely catch your BON's attention.

If the BON does contact you, I would recommend that you get a lawyer to deal with them--do not contact the BON directly, or at least have a lawyer review and approve your communication first. You can find lawyers versed in nursing matters and BONs here: TAANA Executive Office - Home

Best of luck.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
3) His soon to be ex-wife could actually take YOU to court for the adultery and win damages, believe it or not!

That's the Alienation of Affection lawsuit I was talking about. Only 9 or 10 states permit them--not sure if MS is one of them. And yes, people do file such suits.

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She has already filed the AOA lawsuit, but my boyfriend assures me they were separated and he had already told her he wanted a divorce when we started seeing each other. I have my first consult with a lawyer for that next week. I just don't see how the BON would justify penalizing my nursing license for this.

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We met at work, I am a "float nurse" and I was assigned in his unit several times. After some of the doctors became aware that we were seeing each other, I was no longer assigned in the unit he worked in.

My question would be, how the the doctors become aware of your personal relationship? Why would they be involved in Nursing staffing?

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He works in a specialized dept, not a unit or floor. The dept was short staffed and I had been assigned to work that dept for at least 2 months. The dept has 6 doctors that do procedures in that area. They had seen us eating lunch together and walking together and I suppose flirting at work. They discourage relationships between co-workers in the hospital I work in and 2 married spouses or a dating couple cannot work in the same dept. We never came out and said we were dating, but I think it was pretty obvious. I was told by the manager of that dept that it had come to their attention that I may be in a relationship with someone in that dept, so I would no longer be assigned there.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Sounds like a whole lot of nothing to me. It's got to be a slow week at the BON if they don't laugh at this outright. Did she report her own husband's ass to the BON? He's the one who technically cheated on her. I can't imagine anyone taking this crap seriously. A vindictive ex-wife. How novel.

I'm glad you have an appointment with a lawyer. Hopefully this all gets laid to rest and you can breathe more easily.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
She has already filed the AOA lawsuit, but my boyfriend assures me they were separated and he had already told her he wanted a divorce when we started seeing each other. I have my first consult with a lawyer for that next week. I just don't see how the BON would justify penalizing my nursing license for this.

Who knows? BONs have gotten their knickers in a twist over less than this. I've never worked in MS so I'm not familiar with the MS BON's policies and thought process, so I can't say if they would or wouldn't.

Though since she's filing legal action against you, you might have to tell the BON about it, especially if judgment is found against you. Again, seek legal counsel about that. It's good you've got that lawyer at the ready

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From what she told him, she reported us both to the BON. He does not seem very worried about it, but I think it is more so because he is stressing what she put in the divorce papers. From what he said, she reported us because she was mad that we were "openly dating" and she also works in healthcare and claims it is unprofessional. I have never been in trouble with the board, so this has me quite nervous. That on top of the AOA lawsuit. Thank you all for the responses and advice.

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By giving you something to worry about, she has already accomplished a good deal of her intent.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

This is definitely a post that Dr Fever, AKA Davey Do needs to weigh in on

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Specializes in Case manager, float pool, and more.
This is definitely a post that Dr Fever, AKA Davey Do needs to weigh in on

Awaiting the Davey Do cartoon in 3, 2, 1....................................................:)

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