The BON gives us until the last day of the expiration month to renew our license. I renewed my RN license on the morning of 30th and checked to make sure I was showing on the Board's site as renewed. I was. I printed out the receipt and notified my director.
Two days later, I went to clock in for my 7p weekend night shift. The clock let me clock in. I went to the unit, took report (viewing computer chart data via the off-going nurse's log-in), and started caring for my patients. Later, when I finally had occasion to log-on, the computer wouldn't let me in.
The IT folks said I was locked out because of an expired license and that the only one who had the authority to change it was HR.
My clinical mgr. was as caught off guard as I. She'd already verified my renewal and, obviously, let me come to work. By the time she checked with the director and arranged for someone to take my assignment, and I gave report, it was after midnight. I'd worked roughly 6 hours. I was sent home for the weekend until HR could straighten things out.
Apparently our HR uses a 'third party' to handle much of it's processes, this included. I told my director I wanted to be paid not only for the time I worked but also for the time I missed due to the error--someone else's error, not mine.
Result: They are 'investigating it.'
Has anyone else had this happen to them?
What was the outcome?
Are there any laws that govern this, or are we at the mercy of company policy?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Nor do you really know how much that license means until you have earned it. It is more than just a piece of paper...it is your life! And something your employer takes very seriously if you are a nurse.
Plus you can look up you name on a government website! (The good kind!!)
I am not looking for legal advice. I was hoping someone knew of a similar occurrence and could relate how it was handled.
Anyhow, I did not work for 6 hours without accessing the computer. I worked for approx. 2 until I needed to give a med and discovered I couldn't get in. (I take very detailed report notes so I don't HAVE to access the computer a lot.) My coworker stepped in and helped me with the med, and my manager (who, thankfully, happened to be working late that night) helped me with the rest until staffing assignments could be shifted around and I could give report and leave.
My director was aware I'd waited to renew. After being alerted by HR, she called me that Wed. morning to make sure I was doing it. I renewed shortly thereafter, and then I notified her it was done. There was no excuse for HR not to know.
My director was aware I'd waited to renew. After being alerted by HR, she called me that Wed. morning to make sure I was doing it. I renewed shortly thereafter, and then I notified her it was done. There was no excuse for HR not to know.
Wow, your manager had to call you and remind you to renew your license because HR called her about it. Then you decided to go online and renew at that time.
That right there shows you have some poor decision making skills.
Honestly you should thank your lucky stars you have a manager who holds your hand and walks you down the hall.
Stop blaming HR. There are many checks and balances a company has to go through when a licensed employee renews.
Do you know that most 3rd party company run back ground checks on many licensed employees before letting HR know all is good to go. Why is that, because people LIE.
So 24-48 hours isn't enough time for any complete back ground check.
Just because the state requires the time up until midnight, doesn't mean your employer does. You might want to read you employers P&P's a little more than assuming they screwed up.
Wow, your manager had to call you and remind you to renew your license because HR called her about it. Then you decided to go online and renew at that time.
That right there shows you have some poor decision making skills.
Honestly you should thank your lucky stars you have a manager who holds your hand and walks you down the hall.
Stop blaming HR. There are many checks and balances a company has to go through when a licensed employee renews.
Do you know that most 3rd party company run back ground checks on many licensed employees before letting HR know all is good to go. Why is that, because people LIE.
So 24-48 hours isn't enough time for any complete back ground check.
Just because the state requires the time up until midnight, doesn't mean your employer does. You might want to read you employers P&P's a little more than assuming they screwed up.
so you know what the OP's employer's policy is on license renewal? Because by your comment it sounds like you do. In my state RN licenses expire on April 30th on even years, LPNs on April 30th on odd years... The website shows the renewal immediately, and takes less than 30 sec for it to be verified. The policy at any place I've worked has been to maintain a valid license. If I renew on April 29th, I'm still valid. The OP renewed her license as stated by the BON AND notified her NM. She's been a nurse for 20+ years and I don't recall her stating this happens every time she renews... You have no idea what went on in her life for the month of her renewal, walk a mile in her shoes before you criticize her.
so you know what the OP's employer's policy is on license renewal? Because by your comment it sounds like you do. In my state RN licenses expire on April 30th on even years, LPNs on April 30th on odd years... The website shows the renewal immediately, and takes less than 30 sec for it to be verified.
Okay -- so that's "30 sec" x however many nurses your employer employs (my employer employs >11,000), in addition to all the other things the HR department needs to do. Gee, do you think some people who waited until the last minute might get overlooked or "fall through the cracks"? The HR people are only humans, just like the nurses. I have no problem with the OP having done what s/he did; I just have a problem with her/him getting angry at HR and considering it their mistake because of it, and not taking any personal responsibility for her actions. She took a chance, and it didn't work out for her. Lesson learned (I hope).
OCNRN63, RN
5,979 Posts
I always knew the FBI had a file on me!