How many nurses here have their license currently suspended?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been an RN for 5 years. Two years ago, a small hospital in which I was practicing reported to my state BON every mistake I had made during my entire 2 years of employment. This happened AFTER a doctor and myself got into a very heated argument over a pt. I made the mistake of questioning his orders. This doctor is known for his fury! He is NEVER wrong! He reported to the DON the incident and she informed me I should submit to a drug screen for the doctor had stated: "She has errated behavior".

Well, I firmly 'planted my feet' and refused a drug screen unless the doctor also took one. Well, this went over like a 'turd in a punch bowl'. After approx one hour of discussion, I resigned after telling them all how I felt.

My license were placed on 2 year probation and I had to sign an Agreed Order with my state BON. I had NO idea how serious this was. I had no clue r/g an attorney so I signed the agreement.

The probation would have been up in Feb. BUT, I recently went to work for a small nursing home. My job responsibilities were: passing meds to 38 residents, skilled charting, assessing the skilled residents, breathing txments, wound care, and any admissions which came in, take orders off from incoming requests the day-shift nurse had requested, ordering all meds for residents.

I eventually made two med-errors which consisted of a med not given to two residents.I filled out a med error form.I also faxed an order for a resident to our out of state pharmacy and failed to place her name on the order. The pharmacy called almost immediatly for the name inwhich I supplied.

After approx 50 days into this job, the new hires, one of which at been there 6mos, were place in one day orientation. I was fired a few days later for the above incidents. This facility reported this to the board.

What you all need to understand about this night-mare is this: I stupidly signed an Agreed Order with the BON stating I would be PERFECT. You all know as well myself, we as nurses are NOT perfect no more than any one else in this world.

There is evil in this world, unfortunately. I've been a victim myself more than once in other areas of life. Some people are full of guile and cunning, and think nothing of trying to destroy another person through unholy means. It's a sad fact of life in this world.:o

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No offense but I really don't think we are hearing the full story. To my knowledge unless you had a med error which caused a death or an adverse reaction I don't see why the hospital would report it to the BON, there just simply is no reason to. If they started doing that I guaurauntee the amount of reported med errors would drop to near zero lol.

Two missed doses being means for action on your license? Well I guess myself and 99.9 of the nurses on this board need to turn in our licenses.

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Believe it or NOT! This is the whole story!

one resident did not receive his coumadin, another resident did not receive her Remeron. ONE physician oder was faxed to our out of state pharmacy without the name of the resident. The pharmacy called me within 5 minutes for the name of the resident.......all of the above incidents happen to all of us at one time or another.....My attorney seems to think the reason they called the BON was because my license was on probation. I absolutly have NO idea why they chose to report me to the BON, for my Agreed Order (which the facilty had a copy of) clearly states I can have NO mistakes reported without immidiate suspension of my license for 2 years.......and NO for the next 2 years I will not be able to work as an RN......I can hold a position as a medication aid or nurse aid.

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Sheba, I am so sorry you are going through this. I cannot imagine how in the world a BON, A LTC facility, a hospital, or a clinic can expect a nurse to NEVER make a error. Doctors get to "practice" medicine, why are nurses expected to be perfect? I will keep you in my prayers. Good luck.

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sounds bogus to me.

Several years ago, I developed a substance abuse problem. I ended up diverting some meds from work. I never got caught "red handed" but paperwork caught up with me. I admitted my guilt, and voluntarily entered the impaired nurses program. I never had to deal with the board. I had to do what the program told me for 3 years(meetings, drug screens etc).

If you are telling us the whole story, then you have been truly wronged because every nurse makes a few minor mistakes. I did something much worse than you and basically just received a slap on the wrist and never had to stop practicing except initially while I went to treatment for my problem.

The sad fact is, the board can do whatever they want. I've met one person in my program who had done nothing more than me and received MUCH worse punishment. I think sometimes it just depends on who is handling your case and a lot of bad luck. I would highly suggest you gather all the information you have and go to the board and appeal(yes you can appeal and they have the option of lifting your suspension early)

good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

My thoughts are with you...I hope everything turns out alright.

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Believe it or NOT! This is the whole story!

one resident did not receive his coumadin, another resident did not receive her Remeron. ONE physician oder was faxed to our out of state pharmacy without the name of the resident. The pharmacy called me within 5 minutes for the name of the resident.......all of the above incidents happen to all of us at one time or another.....My attorney seems to think the reason they called the BON was because my license was on probation. I absolutly have NO idea why they chose to report me to the BON, for my Agreed Order (which the facilty had a copy of) clearly states I can have NO mistakes reported without immidiate suspension of my license for 2 years.......and NO for the next 2 years I will not be able to work as an RN......I can hold a position as a medication aid or nurse aid.

I think it would have helped if you had taken the drug test...and if that didn't work, then I guess you should have been EXTRA careful to not get those medication errors during your probation period. Yes, mistakes happen, but apparently your rate of mistakes were high enough that it concerned people. frankly, if I were your patient, I would want you suspended also if you kept making medication errors. That could kill someone.

I hope it works out and you get to practice again, but please be careful!

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I just moved to KY from NY and at the hospital I was working at there was a case similar to this. An RN in the ICU questioned a doc about a med being given. They supposedly had a heated argument too. Only difference was the RN told the doc she wasn't giving the med and that if he wanted it given, he had to give it. I really think the docs need to be followed up on more with this stuff. It is very true that it is a nurses right and job to question anything and everything that we think might be wrong. I know all the nursing staff recieved an employee e-mail about the situation, and i truely think it was becasue the MD was such a big name at the hospital they did nothing but bash the RN. The hospital managment did not stand up for her at all. On the side though, I knew the head of the MD bored at the hospital, he was not thrilled with what happened and he delt with the offending MD through his chanels.

........ score 1 for us nurses...he he he!

Hope it all works out for you.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

So sorry this happened to you, Sheba.

There is evil in this world, unfortunately. I've been a victim myself more than once in other areas of life. Some people are full of guile and cunning, and think nothing of trying to destroy another person through unholy means. It's a sad fact of life in this world.
And I've known nurses who got fired for trumped-up reasons as well. One got reported to the BON and had to fight to keep his license for something that a sundowning resident said that he did--and about a year later, another nurse confessed to it. I was so mad that he never got his coworker off the hook and told the truth, that I quit. Never did see the other coworker again, but I do know he didn't lose his license.

So yeah, this stuff can and does happen. Just one more good reason to carry insurance.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

The nursing profession, itself, is prone to victimization. Laws and statutes favor doctors, hospital administrators, and other powers-that-be. That is why the nurse must choose his or her working environment very, very carefully. Some places of employment are dangerous professionally, and full of unsavory politics. I actually warn my students to stay away from certain institutions or floors/ units that are "unsafe."

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I think it would have helped if you had taken the drug test...and if that didn't work, then I guess you should have been EXTRA careful to not get those medication errors during your probation period. Yes, mistakes happen, but apparently your rate of mistakes were high enough that it concerned people. frankly, if I were your patient, I would want you suspended also if you kept making medication errors. That could kill someone.

I hope it works out and you get to practice again, but please be careful!

I have NEVER made a med error which put a patients life at risk! I was employed with this facility for 56 days.......I don't feel 2 med errors are cause for this type of action.

Prior to working at this LTC facility I had worked for a OP dialysis unit. So most of my probated suspension was spent at the dialysis unit. My job performance was without error! The sad part of this entire journey is to get soooooooo close to being done with the board and being honest enough to even fill out a med error report :crying2:

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Things like this make me wonder why I continue in nursing.

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