License at Risk? Put up or shut up,,,

[Jedrnurse]

After reading yet another statement about "your license is at risk" (usually due to poor staffing) I'm curious about the reality, not the scare tactics.

How many people have actually had their licenses threatened (by Board actions, not patient/family mouthing off) due to unsafe work conditions?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I know of only one, and it involved a criminal conviction related to embezzlement of over $10,000 in cash from a non-profit organization where she volunteered.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I've known of two LPNs back in the 80s (substance abuse), and a kinda-sorta in the 90s. The kinda-sorta individual didn't lose a license per-se'; instead, after she was caught cheating on the NCLEX (pre-Pearson Vue days), she was forever banned from being licensed in these United States for the rest of her natural life.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

Saw two in four years - one for stealing narcs, another was sentenced for multiple charges ranging from DUI (more than once) to domestic, minor and animal abuse. The license was revoked after the latter guy went to jail, and he was offered help and treatment for his ETOH addiction multiple times before it happened.

In locality, there was also one case of an NP losing her license together with the doc for whom she worked. Both of them messed up with narcs, scripts and Medicaid monbey.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I personally know of one- my friend's sister-in-law. Her family still thinks she is an RN even though she actually works as a secretary. She diverted narcotics from her employer and then failed to show up at any of her BoN hearings.

At my last job there was a nurse I believe the company reported to the BoN- private duty nurse who checked in for a shift and submitted a flow sheet for a day the child was in the hospital. She did not mistakenly write the wrong date, she made up vital signs and an assessment to make it look like she worked that day so she wouldn't lose money while the child was hospitalized. I don't know what happened with her- that wasn't a patient I oversaw.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

At my last job there was a nurse I believe the company reported to the BoN- private duty nurse who checked in for a shift and submitted a flow sheet for a day the child was in the hospital. She did not mistakenly write the wrong date, she made up vital signs and an assessment to make it look like she worked that day so she wouldn't lose money while the child was hospitalized. I don't know what happened with her- that wasn't a patient I oversaw.

Speaking about being reported to the BON - I had it because my then-NM "provided excellent customer service" to an openly racist patient who "just wanted to know" what I was doing in America the Wonderful with my obvious foreign accent. I got a letter from there saying, pretty much, "hun, we have to let you know that you were reported to us - now, sit back and watch this idiot getting into trouble he is longing for". The guy tried to "address" the issue with ICE and was tried and convicted for yelling threats on a clerk, who, unlike poor myself, was a federal employee.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Is the lad alright? Was he removed from the home?

Did Mom receive psychiatric care?

He is fine and he must be a teenager by now. I believe he initially was removed from the home but returned to the custody of his father when mom was incarcerated. I know Mom is back home now, still with her husband and they've since had at least one other child. She received psychiatric care and the last I heard was working as a freelance photographer. This was years ago, when I was in college, so I am fuzzy on all of the details and timeline. I don't even talk to our mutual friend anymore (has nothing to do with this).

[caffeinatednurse, BSN, RN]

I only know of 2 nurses who were disciplined by the board, but did not lose their license. Both continue to work as nurses with no active restrictions. One of them was caught pre-pouring medications, was counseled on it, and then continued to do so. The facility she worked for then turned her over to the BON. The other nurse failed to self-identify his previous criminal history when applying for a nursing license, and had a restricted license for a while.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

One person I know stole narcotics multiple times over years before she was caught. We knew one of about five people was stealing narcs, and finally the pharmacy figured it out.

Another for patient abuse and neglect, was told several times by different nurses that her actions were against policy, and still chose to continue. The patient later died.

It takes a lot to completely lose your license.

[JBudd, MSN]

Our quarterly news letter/bulletin/magazine from the state BON lists nurses by name that have appeared before the Board and what action was taken. A few have revocations, usually narcotics, most have suspensions for a period of time.

[abbnurse]

One - she LITERALLY physically abused a patient right in front of a state surveyor.

She was immediately terminated, and after all was said and done (she claimed the surveyor lied), her license was permanently revoked.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I know of two. One was an agency nurse that worked occasionally in my facility and played fast and loose with the med cart. A whole card of Vicodin (and the count sheet) disappeared on her watch. Soon after, she was listed in the BON disciplinary action section. Some time after that, she was revoked for non-compliance with the Board.

The second one was a psych nurse I worked with many, many moons ago. The BON newsletter listed her as revoked for inappropriate relationship with a client.

[lindseylpn]

One revoked, for witnessed abuse. All her licenses we're revoked (RN, Vet Tech, EMT and CMA) and criminal charges were filed.

One reprimanded (I think suspended), for repeated failure to document meds given. Diversion wasn't suspected, she just never documented when she gave any PRN meds and was given many warnings.