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.

as if errors were not enough, do you know the other things that a board could come after you for? if i told you, if i presented legal documents, you would not believe me. . . just don't piss off your manager, administrator, or other nurses and you might be ok.

yes, i want to know exactly what reasons bon can come after you. can you please tell me because i'm dying to know. thanks

to: Nursepreotect is there no way to put a stop to this retaliation. I have gotten bit more than once because I put in c/o?

Nurseprotect...God Bless you! I have heard of your organization and am thrilled someone is noticing what goes on. If I had the energy i would go to law school, become a nurse attorney and help nurses...the stories my nurse attorney told me curled my hair...she devotes her entire practice to protecting Texas nurses who have been railroaded. She keeps very busy.

Keep up the good work Nurseprotect..i am SOOO glad you are out there seeing the truth. :)

so how do we stop the railroading

Specializes in Utilization Management.
so how do we stop the railroading

Carry ? It might not stop them from trying, but it might certainly keep them from succeeding.

http://www.nso.com/

Carry malpractice insurance? It might not stop them from trying, but it might certainly keep them from succeeding.

http://www.nso.com/

I am a pre-nursing student but from the time I start clinicals I will carry . I have other reasons to but one reason is the access to an attorney if I should have to go up before the BON. Some of the OP's problems might have been avoided had she had an attorney the first time. And I am sure the 100 or odd dollars I pay per year will be much cheaper than the attorney I would have to pay out of pocket.

My license protection is not the only reason but I think I made my feelings known on the other threads.

Read my story entitled " Down and Dirty in the Oklahoma State Board of Nursing " it's posted in this forum, it will enlighten you to the real world of nursing. Good Luck.

As a nursing student, stories like these frighten me and give me a reality check. Thank you for sharing your story.

Your errors were human, your accountability was admirable, and you sound like a nurse I would respect.

You'll be in my prayers... best of luck to you.

Deanna

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My response is based on several years of assisting nurses with board of nursing complaints through Nurseprotect.

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Chad, offense taken - but you are typical of MOST nurses on the planet when it comes to a complaint against a colleague's license. That nurse MUST have done something wrong.

To the nurse who started this thread, don't waste your time and energy trying to convince these people of what you and I already know - even if they pretend to be supportive, they will still assume that YOU are the problem - that is one way that humans protect themselves from believing that bad things could happen to them.

"THE BON IS NOT YOUR FRIEND." Are you back in business, Lee? Are you working in San Diego?

mv

I do not see this mentality changing and I do not see our lot improving in this nasty trade.

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Why is there no reason to report all errors? Just because a patient was harmed or died, what is the difference between a good outcome and one that results in death when an error occurs? Read the literature on this topic - the EXPERTS ask this question often.

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ALL of the nurses, myself included, would need to turn in our licenses. NOBODY practices without error.

As if errors were not enough, do you know the other things that a board could come after you for? If I told you, if I presented legal documents, you would not believe me. . . Just don't piss off your manager, administrator, or other nurses and you might be ok.

This nurses story is so common that I don't even get angry anymore when I hear about this type of retaliation. It is simply that rotten way things are in nursing. It is NOT going to change soon. With this being said, and multiple case files of evidence attesting to this fact, there are still too many nurses who refuse to believe what I have written. I will not change this fact.

Our system is VERY sick. Errors are used by administration if and when it is convenient for them to discredit a nurse - especially a nurse that points out dangerous practices within a system.

This retaliation has been well documented in nursing literature. Case files of the evidence exist in nurse attorney's offices nationwide -- worldwide. NOTHING has changed for many years and I don't foresee it changing any time soon.

Of course, it will NEVER happen to you/me because you/I are/am such a good, conscientious nurse. . .

With that said,

Happy happy joyous fricken New Year to all of my nurse colleagues! : )

Steve Lee, RN

[email protected]

512-740-1841 mobile

Austin Texas - home

and

San Diego/Los Angeles California - work

If I had the energy i would go to law school, become a nurse attorney and help nurses...the stories my nurse attorney told me curled my hair...she devotes her entire practice to protecting Texas nurses who have been railroaded. She keeps very busy.

Maybe texas RNs should think about UNIONIZING!!!!

this is not just in Texas it goes on all over. unfortunately the way the system works in most facilities is the nurse is over worked and is subject to any type of retaliation that they want to inflict, because they choose to do it. Some times I think the DON is just too inexperienced to tell the difference between real error's and charting errors. in any case we the nurses are in a position where we are subjected to this ignorance. I couldn't tell you how often I was written up for so called med errors.example: held ativan due to severe lethargy was charted, doc called, family was aware, put resident on watch. this should never have been an issue, the person that wrote it up didn't look to see what was going on. another one, written up for not giving a Vanco IV: trough was 23, pt. was to be on this for at least a month, called doc,called pharmacy and this was all documented and reported to the oncoming nurse who happened to be an agency nurse. even though nothing became of this it takes a lot of time away from the unit. some people actually think those med cards are a way of telling if a med was not given. I couldn't tell you how many times that I punched a pill out and then discovered the nurse the day before hadn't given it. I told the supervisor about this and she said they will blame you. some times these pills are poured and wasted because they won't take it then the family comes in and they want to try so you punch out another pill, looks like you double dosed. and yes some times this stuff doesn't get charted.

Maybe texas RNs should think about UNIONIZING!!!!

Apparently not enough nurses down here feel unions would help. Failed x 3.

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

I always advise my students to choose their practice areas very, very carefully, as some areas are so toxic and/ or unsafe that they can destroy a nurse professionally. I warn my students to stay away from certain units or certain facilities.

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