license under investigation

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so i recently was working as a travel nurse in iowa, i'm originally licensed in wisconsin and california. i was working in iowa under the compact. a complaint was made against me, and i received a letter from my travel nursing agency that this complaint was sent to wisconsin and california. i'm now back in wisconsin, and i am currently attempting to get my old job back at my old hospital. i just wanted to know if i am required to disclose that my license may be under investigation? if i am straight up asked this, i intend to answer truthfully, but if not, i wasn't going to necessarily offer this information. does anyone know if i will be breaking any rules by not disclosing this myself? thanks

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so i recently was working as a travel nurse in iowa, i'm originally licensed in wisconsin and california. i was working in iowa under the compact. a complaint was made against me, and i received a letter from my travel nursing agency that this complaint was sent to wisconsin and california. i'm now back in wisconsin, and i am currently attempting to get my old job back at my old hospital. i just wanted to know if i am required to disclose that my license may be under investigation? if i am straight up asked this, i intend to answer truthfully, but if not, i wasn't going to necessarily offer this information. does anyone know if i will be breaking any rules by not disclosing this myself? thanks

Was the complaint made to your agency or to the BON? It's most likely something that will have to be disclosed when you apply for any job if it's a report to the board. No one here knows your potential employer's "rules" beyond that, though.

You might get more replies if you put a minimal amount of effort into making your post reader-friendly. The lack of capital letters is very distracting ...annoying, even.

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Have you talked to an attorney familiar with nursing licensing issues? If not, you can find one through TAANA.

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All is fair in love and war... and job interviews

Think this one through. If there is a complaint against your license, you should find a job ASAP before the complaint surfaces. If the employer has spent time and money orienting / training you, they aren't going to let you go over a minor complaint that surfaces later. And under what circumstances would this employer learn about said complain? I've been reading a lot on this site recently and a lot of nurses seem to have gotten into this habit of offering more information than they need to.

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To clarify.. does "sent to Wisconsin and California".. mean to their BON?

Job applications clearly ask if you have ever had a complaint against your license. You know the answer to that.

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Have either of the BONs sent you a letter saying they are investigating a complaint against you?

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I have never applied to a position that did not ask if I had ever been disciplined or if my license was under investigation.

Most facilities even have policies that require nurses to report when they are bring investigated.

Honestly, if they find out later it looks a lot worse like you were trying to hide it versus you disclosing it and blowing it off like it was all just a misunderstanding.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.

I agree with some of the other posters who asked if this was to the BON's vs your company? If your company, I don't think you should be required to?disclose this. If to the BONs, it would depend upon if they are pursuing an investigation of you and the status.

You should speak to a lawyer once you get more information regarding the nature of the complaint. Look up the status your license on your board's website, then consult a lawyer.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
I have never applied to a position that did not ask if I had ever been disciplined or if my license was under investigation.

Most facilities even have policies that require nurses to report when they are bring investigated.

Honestly, if they find out later it looks a lot worse like you were trying to hide it versus you disclosing it and blowing it off like it was all just a misunderstanding.

I have always been a person who believed it is important to always be honest. However...I have since learned that even though unfounded, a complaint can Cause a lot of difficulty for your career. If it is serious enough, this poster needs a lawyer to advise her/him. If it is something bogus that is not likely to go anywhere, it may be better to not mention it until more information can be obtained.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
To clarify.. does "sent to Wisconsin and California".. mean to their BON?

Job applications clearly ask if you have ever had a complaint against your license. You know the answer to that.

Actually I think the wording is usually "Has there ever been any disciplinary action against your license?" The reality is that anyone can complain about anything, then it has to be investigated, no matter how frivolous. If you've been investigated and no disciplinary action resulted, there's nothing to report.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Duplicate post.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

If no action has been taken against your license, you're usually not obligated to report it. Action is a lot different than investigation in that the latter is fact gathering and occurs prior to Board hearings or Board actions against your license.

I'd see an attorney that is experienced in administrative law and has handled cases before the Board of Nursing.

I would also continue to look for a job. The investigation could turn out to be something that is unfounded and unactionable.

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