I did a Google search, and my RN information and a bunch of other things are there?

[rumwynnieRN]

Let me preface this with yes I know this is the internet and you can find almost anything, BUT, since moving to Florida (I have no idea if this is uniquely a Florida thing or if other states have this issue, and if it is uniquely Florida, I don't mind having this thread moved), apparently a lot of my information became public? There are some things with the Google search that are acceptable -- like my LinkedIn, but the part I squared off in red scares me.

Some of the information is stuff that could've come from the BON's website -- like my primary place of practice.

As you can see though, after I blocked out all the information, it has my home address, my phone number and my personal email. There are other things that if you knew my real name, you could find that on the BON (...okay some of that is fair game), but it makes me uncomfortable (I really need to figure out how to get rid of that white pages search?). I also looked up my coworkers, and apparently they can all be found this way too. When I lived in Texas and Arkansas, I didn't have this issue.

So am I being paranoid? Has anyone gotten their information taken down? I'm half wondering if there was a disclaimer with the FL BON that said they could release this information (...if they did, I thought that was just for like someone had a complaint against me which I thought was all states?). I could just be overreacting -_-;

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I think very few states do this, but unfortunately they still do it. I knew Florida was one and part of me wants to say NY as well? In my state you just have your city, state and zip code listed. I think even that is too much, to be honest.

[Emergent, RN]

Wow, that's a great tool for stalkers. But, if you know someone's first and last name, it's not hard to find out stuff, even without the help of the BON.

[MyAimIsTrue, BSN]

I just did a google search on a professor and found out not only her home address but where her kids go to school. I was definitely not looking for that kind of information! This is in California. Yeah, it's scary.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

When I registered to vote in Florida, the form asked for my email address and warned that if I chose to give it, it would be public. I guess I should Google myself just to see what's out there!

[Purple_roses]

If your last name is on your badge/name tag, will your facility allow you to tape it off to cover it up? My nursing program allowed us to do this...an instructor brought up the idea of covering our last names when we started our psych rotation.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Man convicted of psychiatrist stabbing sentenced to life | 6abc.com

Dr. Ekong was murdered in her home by a former patient.

Is this story very unlikely to repeat itself? Probably but why can't the BON at least keep our street addresses private?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

So wrong

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Sounds like an issue that should be brought up with the state nurses association? nurses' unions?

BTW, I searched a relative's info (who is a nurse in FL) and the information I got was not as detailed, yes full home address was there but not phone number or email.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I just googled myself! OMG! They have a speeding ticket on there (not a major one-was dismissed so that's a problem right there). My BSN graduation. It's weird how certain things are on there and some are not.

[Anonymous865]

This concern comes up frequently on here. What people fail to realize is how easy it is to get any of this information w/o getting it from the BON.

With someone's first and last name, I can find out with just a few searches:

- their current address and all previous addresses

- names and addresses of their parents and siblings

- what they paid for their home

- what their home is currently appraised for

- the title of their graduate thesis

- photos of them

- where they work

- what organizations they have made donations to

- names of their children

- photos of their children

- approximate income and net worth

Real Estate transfers are published in the paper (seller, purchaser, price, address)

Photos of the home exterior and interior are published on realtor web sites when the home is listed. I've seen photos on these web sites years after the home was sold.

Property tax records are available on line (owner names, address, appraised value)

Births are published in the newspaper (parents' names, child's name). They are often published in company newsletters, e.g. "Congratulations to Mary Smith (PACU) and her husband Tom on the birth of their daughter, Jane." Company newsletters are on the web.

Your name and photo could be published in your company's or school's newsletter about a promotion or award you received or a process improvement committee you worked on.

Your friends/family could take a photo of you/your child and post it on their open facebook account and tag you/your child.

Your child's name/photo could be published in the school newsletter or the newspaper for winning a spelling bee, track meet, or being in the school play, band, orchestra.

Charities often publish the names of donors. They also sell their donor lists.

Stores use store loyalty cards to collect purchasing info about you and sell the info to advertisers.

Apps on your phone use your GPS to track your movements.

I've googled myself and found every address I've had since I was 6 years old, what I've paid for my homes, what I sold them for, where I've worked, etc.

We have no privacy.

[rumwynnieRN]

That is true, but I thought it was just really disconcerting with that particular result. Hey from one of the previous posters, I know now NOT to put my email. Good grief -_-; and yes, until I started working at the current hospital I'm at, I never worried about a patient following me to my car until that one patient. Good thing my full name isn't on my badge.