How does your BON know your working?

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2009

They can check with your state's workforce department. In Texas it is the Texas workforce comission. When you sign your agreement with the Bon they are given authority to check up on you. And let me tell you, catching you working as a nurse is worse than failing a drug test.

jackstem · Mar 11, 2009

And let me tell you, catching you working as a nurse is worse than failing a drug test.

Ain't it the truth!!

Anytime you are hired as a nurse, your employer is going to check to see if your license is current, active, and if you have any problems with the National Practitioner Data Bank or the Office of Inspector General. While being in the NPDB has less impact on your ability to find work, being on the OIG list can prevent you from finding work. Anyone who is on the OIG list will not receive reimbursement from any federally funded agency (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.). If your employer can't get reimbursement for your services they aren't going to hire you. That's why more and more employers are doing background checks on the people providing care at their institution. And as our astute colleague from Texas said so well...

And let me tell you, catching you working as a nurse is worse than failing a drug test.

Jack

sl33y · Mar 12, 2009

I see. I just don't understand how the workforce dept has my name.

Thanks for the reply, guys!

RNRutRO · Mar 13, 2009

They have everyone's name who pays taxes. In TX, that's how they know if you qualify for Unemployment.

I'm not sure we understand what you are asking. But, bottom line, it seems that you are trying to work AROUND the system. If you do that, you will be in a world of hurt WHEN you get caught.

I wouldn't chance it, but that's me. Good luck.

sl33y · Mar 13, 2009

I am not chancing it, because I won't do what I am asking. I just find it interesting that I doubt the BON would know where or if you are working unless you tell them.

As far as unemployment, you have to fill out a pretty long application and it gets reviewed. After that, they contact your previous employer for verification, so I don't think the workforce dept has a list of all people in the state who pay taxes.

Also, in my agreement, it mentions nothing of them being allowed to check tax document. It doesn't even mention anything about returning to work othe than restrictions.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2009

As far as unemployment, you have to fill out a pretty long application and it gets reviewed. After that, they contact your previous employer for verification, so I don't think the workforce dept has a list of all people in the state who pay taxes.
.

When I filed for unemployment 3 years ago, I entered in my identifying information, ss#, dob etc,, and when I hit enter, the next page came up with my last three employers, their addresses and my dates of employment. So, yes, there is a database of your employment.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2009

I am not chancing it, because I won't do what I am asking. I just find it interesting that I doubt the BON would know where or if you are working unless you tell them.
As far as unemployment, you have to fill out a pretty long application and it gets reviewed. After that, they contact your previous employer for verification, so I don't think the workforce dept has a list of all people in the state who pay taxes.
Also, in my agreement, it mentions nothing of them being allowed to check tax document. It doesn't even mention anything about returning to work othe than restrictions.

I'm not sure what state you're in, there are different rules for each state. But the bottom line is, the BON has authority to check up on you when you sign your agreement and agree not to work until it is approved. . They are able, and can most definitely check up on your employment status through other state agencies.

They are there to protect the public, and if they think you are working when you should not be, they WILL check up on you. Afterall, they are a state agency.

One of the main purposes of these peer assistance programs is to make sure that you are following the guidelines of your agreement/contract. The restrictions made are imperative to recovery. Going to work without those restrictions endangers patients and your sobriety.

If you want to work as an RN without having approval, then I must question your decision to even sign the agreement in the first place. You might as well rip it up. And you might as well kiss recovery goodbye. While you're at it, kiss your license and your life goodbye. The fact that you got caught and are getting a second chance means nothing to you because you are disregarding the very foundation of the recovery program.

pollyanna83 · Mar 17, 2009

Any employer in the state of texas that pays into the Texas UI system gives the list of all employees to the workforce commission. If your working in Texas and your Employer takes out your taxes and SS you are in the system and virtually ALL agencies have the right to check those files to see whos working and where. Unless your willing to work under a false SS # your in the system and it take about 30 seconds to find you. I do it everyday. Big Brother is watching.

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Mar 17, 2009

Ain't it the truth!!
Anytime you are hired as a nurse, your employer is going to check to see if your license is current, active, and if you have any problems with the National Practitioner Data Bank or the Office of Inspector General. While being in the NPDB has less impact on your ability to find work, being on the OIG list can prevent you from finding work. Anyone who is on the OIG list will not receive reimbursement from any federally funded agency (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.). If your employer can't get reimbursement for your services they aren't going to hire you. That's why more and more employers are doing background checks on the people providing care at their institution. And as our astute colleague from Texas said so well...
Jack

You're right, Jack. We had a nurse from Louisiana where I work that got caught and had charges filed against them.

Anne, RNC

exnursie · Mar 19, 2009

sl33y

In a perfect world what others said is true. but reality is very different.

Fact is that the VRP is understaffed and overworked and there are scores of nurses seeking work and failing. They have no time to do get info from nurses and to think that they would go to the effort of getting info some outside agency and check on all the nurses is not realistic.

It is possible to work if you are in VRP, and not inform them. it would not be in your best interest to do so, since you would be kicked out of VRP and end up in DMU with permanant marks on your license.

I don't remember if VRP policy is that your monitoring time is based on when you begin work and if this is the case, the sooner you can complete your contract, the better off you will be.

sl33y · Mar 19, 2009

Well, I am living in a very small town and can't find work. I am cuurently working as an unlicensed healthcare worker for crappy pay.

I don't know what to do. I am actually thinking of just giving up my license and going back to school to do something else (IT, maybe).

Anyway, thanks for all the replies and good luck to anyone who has signed one of these career-killing contracts with your BON!