If BON protects the PUBLIC, who protects the NURSES?

allnurses Guide · Jan 16, 2020

Unions, when they function correctly and when they exist. Otherwise its every man for himself.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Jan 16, 2020

In theory, legislation can also protect nurses (i.e. mandated staffing ratios). However, you need a collective group of pushy, enthusiastic nurses to move something like that through (for instance a large nursing organization like the ANA, or perhaps BONs themselves).

This reminds me of a recent post by a member who was upset about the CA BON's poor service (waiting on hold for several hours just to be hung up on by her rude customer service rep). The CA BON is notorious for terrible service--high licensing fees, ridiculously slow license processing times, several hours long hold times on the phone. This member was trying to get a group of nurses to protest.

But seriously, even if you get the people together, how do you protest a BON? They don't answer to anyone else--they manage and police themselves. Do you protest by just not working in California? That isn't a feasible solution to most people, and it's not like that will make a bit of difference. It's like trying to protest the DMV--everybody knows it sucks, but you just have to set very low expectations, and just sit there and take it because that's the cost of doing business.

Guest219794 · Jan 16, 2020

22 hours ago, Peterpan said:
BON takes money from nurses for license applications, renewals and everything else. They protect the public and go hard against nurses but who protects the nurses?
Faith? Fate? Destiny?
Or are we just super SCREWED

Lawyers.

scribblz, BSN, CNA, LPN · Jan 16, 2020

And that's why it's wise to buy your own insurance! Your institution will protect you only as long as it benefits them and not a second longer.

Peterpan, CNA, LVN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

On 1/16/2020 at 3:34 PM, scribblz said:
And that's why it's wise to buy your own insurance! Your institution will protect you only as long as it benefits them and not a second longer.

That brings me to the question: what if the situation doesn’t benefit the company?

On 1/16/2020 at 7:51 AM, Nurse SMS said:
Unions, when they function correctly and when they exist. Otherwise its every man for himself.

And in states where Unionism is deemed illegal?

Peterpan, CNA, LVN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

On 1/16/2020 at 9:09 AM, adventure_rn said:
Agree with @Nurse SMS.
In theory, legislation can also protect nurses (i.e. mandated staffing ratios). However, you need a collective group of pushy, enthusiastic nurses to move something like that through (for instance a large nursing organization like the ANA, or perhaps BONs themselves).
This reminds me of a recent post by a member who was upset about the CA BON's poor service (waiting on hold for several hours just to be hung up on by her rude customer service rep). The CA BON is notorious for terrible service--high licensing fees, ridiculously slow license processing times, several hours long hold times on the phone. This member was trying to get a group of nurses to protest.
But seriously, even if you get the people together, how do you protest a BON? They don't answer to anyone else--they manage and police themselves. Do you protest by just not working in California? That isn't a feasible solution to most people, and it's not like that will make a bit of difference. It's like trying to protest the DMV--everybody knows it sucks, but you just have to set very low expectations, and just sit there and take it because that's the cost of doing business.

Bottom line, all BON got to offer is licensure, period!

allnurses Guide · Jan 21, 2020

6 hours ago, Peterpan said:
That brings me to the question: what if the situation doesn’t benefit the company?
And in states where Unionism is deemed illegal?

Both of your questions were answered in the original posts you took them from.

Get your own Liability Insurance.

In states where there aren't any unions, you don't have that protection and will need to advocate for yourself and recognize you don't have a lot of leverage.

You seem to have a beef of some sort but I am having a hard time figuring out what it is. The BON is the licensing authority and exists to protect the public from bad nurses. Are you in trouble with them or something?

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Jan 21, 2020

I don't know of any states where unions are illegal (am I that out of it?), but in those cases in theory you would lobby for politicians who are pro-worker and pro-union and vote out the ones you currently have, to change the culture towards the labor market.

Peterpan, CNA, LVN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

58 minutes ago, Nurse SMS said:
Both of your questions were answered in the original posts you took them from.
Get your own Liability Insurance.
In states where there aren't any unions, you don't have that protection and will need to advocate for yourself and recognize you don't have a lot of leverage.
You seem to have a beef of some sort but I am having a hard time figuring out what it is. The BON is the licensing authority and exists to protect the public from bad nurses. Are you in trouble with them or something?

I don’t have a beef with BON, this was nothing but a question raised at the nurses station.
Thanks for your insights.

KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

The Board of Nursing's reason for existence is to protect the public period. That is why nurses learn early about defensive documentation, CYA, and Liability Insurance to protect their license and livelihood.

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

8 hours ago, Peterpan said:
That brings me to the question: what if the situation doesn’t benefit the company?
And in states where Unionism is deemed illegal?

There are no states in which unions are illegal.