Losing your license

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 1, 2004

Pa SBON Winter 2003 Newsletter....

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib/bpoa/20/nurs_board/nurse_2003.pdf

Check out pages 6-15, 9 pages of disciplinary actions.

wjf00 · Apr 1, 2004

When I was in Nursing school, our entire class was brought to a public BRN hearing. It was for appeals. All the cases but one, involved drug diversion, and all the nurses sucessfully got their license back, but the one. The one who didn't, had falsified vital signs, and at the appeal hearing tried to defend the falsification! ........... scary.

aurora_borealis · Apr 1, 2004

I don't know if all states do this, but here in Illinois when the license is renewed they ask if you owe child support. I have no idea what happens to those who answer yes.

cin69 · Apr 1, 2004

I recently found out a close friend was fired for taking drugs. I want to know how I can help her. Is there a chance she can get her license back? :crying2:

Sheri257 · Apr 2, 2004

Here in the State of Georgia, our Board will suspend your license if you default on a student loan. Really a bizarre thing to do, to take away your ability to earn a living, as well as any opportunity to pay back the loan...which is why they are doing it...to begin with...duh!

That's interesting. Never heard of that one.

:uhoh3:

Sheri257 · Apr 2, 2004

Since so many people have mentioned drugs, how do they find out about it? Are nurses routinely tested or something? And are there a lot of nurses who use drugs?

:uhoh21:

Trauma Columnist · Apr 2, 2004

Lizz - at least in states I've been licensed in (NV, IN,IL), nurses aren't routinely drug tested. However, when pts don't get pain relief when nurse A gives them their pain med, but do when nurse B gives it to them - people start to notice. I think the majority of nurses are honest, ethical people, but yes, there is that subset that uses drugs.

cin69 · Apr 2, 2004

Since so many people have mentioned drugs, how do they find out about it? Are nurses routinely tested or something? And are there a lot of nurses who use drugs?
:uhoh21:

At our hospital we have a computer device to give out narcotics, we have to sign in each time and all the patients in the hospital are in the system. When a nurse's name keeps popping up routinely they are audited and there charting is watched for a number of months. 2 nurses have been fired in the last year from my unit alone.

aurora_borealis · Apr 2, 2004

I recently found out a close friend was fired for taking drugs. I want to know how I can help her. Is there a chance she can get her license back?

Kudos to you for standing by her. Unfortunately, this is not an easy question to answer, for many reasons. First of all, did the hospital offer treatment? Has she sought treatment? Was she taking drugs from the hospital? Has the state suspended/revoked her license yet? Does she have a documented history of addiction? She needs to find a treatment center where they specialize in treating health professionals, and follow their advice.

cin69 · Apr 2, 2004

Kudos to you for standing by her. Unfortunately, this is not an easy question to answer, for many reasons. First of all, did the hospital offer treatment? Has she sought treatment? Was she taking drugs from the hospital? Has the state suspended/revoked her license yet? Does she have a documented history of addiction? She needs to find a treatment center where they specialize in treating health professionals, and follow their advice.

She was taking drugs from the hospital.

Sheri257 · Apr 2, 2004

Wow. Guess I'm not familiar with all of this since I'm just a student.

Just out of curiosity, why would nurses want to steal drugs from hospitals? I guess when I think of drug addicts I think of heroin, pot, etc. I assume hospitals don't have these drugs, so I'm wondering what are the hospital drugs that addicts feel compelled to take?

And don't they realize they can get caught and that the hospital tracks these things?

I guess I'll never completely understand the mentality of a drug user, but if it was me, I'd want to keep it outside of my job. But maybe that's too logical ...especially for an addiction.

Just wondering about the possible reasons for this, since it seems to be the number one thing that people lose their licenses over.

:smokin:

OC_An Khe · Apr 2, 2004

It is not only loosing your license that is the worry. It's the threat of being reported to th BON and being forced to defend your actions.Doesn't matter if it was reported by a spiteful or ignorant family member/patient or by a vindictive employer, or is totallt frivolous. This can take and enormous amount of time and money(your expense). Even if the BON finds in your favor you are still out a lot.