Demotion from DON, self report to BON

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Nov 20, 2015

Please contact your malpractice carrier or seek a lawyers advice prior to appearing before BON to preserve your license.

American Association of Nurse Attorneys can provide you with names in your area.

LaneyB · Nov 20, 2015

OP - thanks for the clarification. It sounds like you WERE demoted so I think you did the appropriate thing. I really hope everything turns out for you.

CASTLEGATES · Nov 20, 2015

Goodness! I'm sort of split on that one. We've had some directors who should be reported to someone for abuse of power and gross incompetence, but that's an employment thing. It would be nice to be able to have them interviewed by someone on one hand, but on the other, to be fair, so many employers support or cause dysfunctional environments why should your license be involved when it's more the workplace culture. Hardly seems like a practice licensing issue, than a performance issue. That sounds like one state to avoid working in.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Nov 24, 2015

I'm flabbergasted. The BON in Massachusetts wouldn't get involved in something like this. Last time I renewed my license there were 3 questions-have you paid your taxes, have you completed the required hours of continuing education credits, have you changed your address? They don't have any say if you get fired....yikes

MB,RN · Nov 24, 2015

I know, me too. I asked if all "positive responses" automatically went before the board. They said no, that out of 109000 nurses, approx 10% answer yes to a question and 10% get selected to go before the board. Lucky me!

cindy_rn456 · Nov 27, 2015

What state are you practicing in?

MB,RN · Nov 28, 2015

Indiana

morte, LPN, LVN · Nov 28, 2015

definitely a law that needs to be changed.

cindy_rn456 · Nov 28, 2015

Yea, I gave a positive response when I renewed figuring honesty is the best policy! I was promoted from the ADON to the DON position and after our annual survey (before the 2567 came through, even) I was called into the office with the DVP and told I was not "progressing as they had hoped" and was told I was demoted from DON immediately. They offered me a floor position in another campus. I was given time to think about it. I told them later that week I was not interested and they offered me $2000 in severance. I was able to resign, technically but I was demoted first. Then when I renewed I answered honestly and then I got a letter to appear before the BON. I feel I was just a scape goat and I probably just dodged a bullet by getting out of there. But I have no idea what the BON may ask me.

I worked at an LTC and have seen DONs come and go within a year. If administration feels it's your fault they were getting bad reviews you're already working in a less than supportive environment. State surveys are a team effort not just nursing.

when the state came to survey did they ask about specific incidents/accidents?

jschut, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2016

I was also asked to resign (or face a mark on my record) after a bad survey. I had never been a DON, had one week "training" and was there almost two months when State walked in. We suffered through that, and the follow up compliance survey (which was ok).

I had no marks against my record, and one absence, but was let go because I was told that I "had no idea what it meant to be in management" due to my ONE call in which was due to my 2 year old grandson (who lives with me) being sick and could not be taken to day care.

MB,RN · Jan 27, 2016

I am sorry to hear that. It can be brutal and they can cut you for just about nothing. It's very political, the places I've worked. They don't think about what it does to us as a nurse and for our families.

I finally went before the board and told them I was told I "wasn't a good fit" and they recommended my licensed be renewed free and clear. Had another DON up there before the board with me for just about the same thing. I don't know why they even have us go before the board. It seemed to be a waste of their and my time.

Found out they take all the "positive responses" and they call 10% before the board. That's a lot! More than a thousand! I was up there with people with drug and criminal charges and nurses who shouldn't even be working. It's the messed up world of nursing!

MB,RN · Jan 27, 2016

Nope. I actually had wounds and falls and care plans and med errors and Inservices and most everything all in order. No major complaints. I wasn't new to LTC or management. State would zero in on things to try to find a pattern but we weren't all that bad.

It just killed me knowing that no one else was held accountable. Like "Holes in the MAR" on the assisted living side. How could I possibly have known a med wasn't initialed off? I had a unit manager to check that. They were just looking to replace me with a DON that came back off FMLA from another building.

They've went through MULTIPLE DONs since me. Sigh... Poor residents and staff. All that change.