Is There An "err-free" Rn?

Published

I saw an ex-friend's name on the list of licensees in CA. I was surprised to see that the accusations of negligence and unprofessional conducts about her are all posted on the website. Is that a "normal" practice here? And why is it posted and filed on aug 2007 when the "negligence" (wrong med) happened in 2003? I am an aspiring nurse and it TERRIFIES me to think that errors will be posted as such. The complainant is the BON Consumer Affairs...(it states that the patient had a code blue) and I wonder why..how come the complainant is the BON and not the patient?

It is a known fact that human errs, and I wonder how others were able to keep their records clean...is there really an err-free RN in the real world?

any comment is welcome and thanks..........

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It took so long because she was low on the priority list of infractions. It could also be because the complaint was not made right away. That's what happened to me. The infraction that I was disciplined for happened a full 10 years prior.

The complaint is filed by an individual, but the one bringing the legal complaint is the BON.

More RNs make serious errors than are reported......many are just terminated and never reported to the BON. There is not one single RN who has never made an error of some kind that could have had serious repercussions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I do not think that there are 'err-free' nurses. What I do think is that it mostly depends on who discovered the mistake, how serious it actually was, and most importantly, was there any harm. Those that have an angel on their shoulder, and those that kiss the tails of the right people literally get away with murder.

I don't know what to do to make sure that I will be error free the rest of my career. What I try to do is to try and remain organized, even within the chaos and not let silly things distract me. Otherwise, I pray. I remember before going to take my NCLEX exam, placing my hands before me and asking that the Creator always guide my mind and my hands-my mind to acknowledge discernment that something is not right, and then, my hands will follow to do-or not do to keep a person safe.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rescue+Medic+ER ER ER ER.

If you are err-free, you muZt be a Saint...

There are no atheists after making an error - ohgod ohgod please god please god oh god.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

My state lists it pretty much in depth. It takes time for all the information to be compiled and for the board to meet and vote. And my state board meets 4x a year, I htink it's 4. In their defense though the reinstatements are also posted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are no error-free nurses.

In my experience, complaints and allegations do not get posted on the BON site under a person's name -- something only appears on the BON site after the complaint/allegation has been thoroughly investigated by the BON, a (negative) ruling has been made, and the nurse in question has had the opportunity to appeal the ruling. In other words, only after the entire process has been completed and it is a "done deal." I would expect that that accounts for at least part of the time elapsed between the date of the incident and the date when a final disposition was posted on the website -- the investigation process is sloooow and complicated ...

As for the information being posted at all, as licensed nurses (RNs and LPNs), we are accountable to the public for our (safe) practice, the same as any other licensed occupation/profession, and any disciplinary actions taken against our licenses are public record. That is true in any US state, for any licensed person.

There is a large element of "luck" in which nurses end up in trouble with their BON and which don't. But, in general, people don't get investigated for just any little error. Typically, in order to get to the point of being investigated and disciplined by the BON, you have to have either made a really serious single error (that killed someone or came close to it, like the situation with your ex-friend), or made an ongoing series of errors, without correcting/improving the situation after being counseled. We (nurses) are responsible to the public for practicing safely, and are held accountable if we fail to do so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There is not one single RN who has never made an error of some kind that could have had serious repercussions.

Pharmacists either, unless they literally do not do anything which describes one pharmacist (Lazy Tom) I once worked with.

I thought it was just our location, but I later met someone (Nice Tom) who had worked with him at a grocery store, and when Lazy Tom worked the weekends, Nice Tom would come in on Monday morning to a stack of unfilled prescriptions - even those from the emergency room :banghead: - and sometimes Lazy Tom didn't even turn on the computer although he did show up.

How Lazy Tom keeps his jobs is a complete mystery to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

the bon delves into the practice of those who's been egregious. could it be that your friend has been a bad actor? you should be fearful. the system is as such that anyone, anytime, anywhere can propose a complaint for any reason against you. welcome to public service. snide remark withheld...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

to err is human

nurses are human

to err is a nurse

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Complex field. Many many ways to make mistakes. I think the important thing is to learn from mistakes and avoid repeating them. We're all just one blip away from a potentially serious error.

I try to live by the carpenters dictum. "Measure twice cut once"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion