Published
Some states require the submission of a 'declaration of good moral character/turpitude' form for licensing/practicing and I was curious if Tennessee has such a requirement?
And just to add after thinking on this--
It is an entirely different story if the nurse in question is KNOWINGLY practicing with the intent to infect people--on purpose, with the intent of harm. Then this is a criminal act, that needs to be reported. However, unless you are seeing this with your own eyes--and again, this is not a witch hunt as you really don't actually KNOW that the nurse has anything at all (unless you have been in said nurse's medical record then YOU are also liable for doing that) then you can not for certain report and not be held to some sort of moral compass/responsibility for reporting what you think and not what you know.
Really think about what you are doing before you do it. You could ruin this nurse's career and their life. And open yourself up to a world of personal liability if the nurse in question copies this particular thread...
I also don't think OP is a nurse. Even the biggest @#$%^ knows better than to put a nurse on the BON's radar. It is so easy to screw up someones career. Only non nurses think it's no big deal. They don't understand that for the rest of your career people will see a discipline and assume that you either murdered a patient or were mainlining heroin in the newborn nursery.
I also agree that a person who has a communicable disease & uses standard precautionary procedures should be protected from scrutiny or discrimination.
So you agree if they use "standard precautionary procedures"
I can assure you that this is not a 'protected' individual because they are adamant about withholding the information from their employer and that only serves to make me very concerned about the ethics of this individual, specifically their ability to adhere to standard precautionary practices which might arouse suspicion in co-workers or superiors.
I am disabled and part of the disability act is that I do not have to disclose to anyone what my disability is unless it is a safety issue. Heck even the police can't ask me what my disabiling medical condition is.
My coworkers and school all know anyways since I don't feel the need to hide I have RA&SLE.
the only conditions I can think of that would change the nurse's "standard precautionary practices" would be what Anonymous listed plus like scabies
- the employee has been diagnosed with measles. The hospital would need to contact anyone the employee has been in contact with
- the employee has active TB
- the employee has dessiminated shingles
- if the emplyee operates dangerous machinery, the employer would need to know if the employee has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder
In other words, if the employee poses a risk to patients or other employees or if the illness could make the employee unable to perform their job safely, then the employer has a right to know.
Ooooohhh or maybe rabies? I'm being serious here, highly unlikely but still a valid possibility! I watch too much Criminal Minds
So you agree if they use "standard precautionary procedures"I am disabled and part of the disability act is that I do not have to disclose to anyone what my disability is unless it is a safety issue. Heck even the police can't ask me what my disabiling medical condition is.
My coworkers and school all know anyways since I don't feel the need to hide I have RA&SLE.
the only conditions I can think of that would change the nurse's "standard precautionary practices" would be what Anonymous listed plus like scabies
Ooooohhh or maybe rabies? I'm being serious here, highly unlikely but still a valid possibility! I watch too much Criminal Minds
Naw, it's probably distemper.
You seriously don't think the employer has the right to know that a healthcare worker has a medical condition that could adversely effect patients? That's just ignorant, so I'm going to ignore your suggestion. It must be a sensitive subject for you to respond with such venom! No matter. I think I have everything I need now to proceed with the complaint and feel good about it. I don't require your opinion or approval. I know it's the right thing to do.
Did you forget about Hipaa laws? People have a right to privacy and that includes health care workers. Your decision to betray your friend or coworker will expose you for the slime you are! Expect to experience a backlash among your coworkers! They will know you are someone who is not trustworthy! Again universal precautions protect both the patient and the healthcare worker. How would this person's disease endanger patients? I really don't see any way this person would endanger patients as long as they are not exposing them to body fluids. How would this person's body fluids get on patients as a healthcare worker? You are both sleezy and stupid! It's hard to believe you work in the health care field when you bring up such an ignorant response that this person is endangering patients. Give us some evidence of how they have actually endangered anyone! All I can say is you are a piece of work and I'm glad I don't work with you. But don't be surprised if you don't get the response you are hoping for and instead find yourself the odd person out, shunned by your coworkers once you show them your true colors!
I luckily have no communicable diseases, but if I did it would be no one's business but mine. I have had a needle stick and other fluid exposure in my long career as a nurse and had to be tested for HIV and Hep C. Luckily I was ok. I have also witnessed a coworker get a needle stick from an overloaded needlebox and had to take AZT in case the needle came from HIV since there was who the needle came from. That coworker experienced severe side effects from AZT, not to mention the fear and stress of wondering if they would get HIV!
I just don't get your self righteous need to expose your friend or coworker's illness. You have not given us any credible threat this person poses to the patients. Sounds like NETY and another example of so called compassionate nurses having no compassion for their own coworkers! Sad! Just Sad!
NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN
791 Posts
Anon, I think you have some good points, though I also disagree on some. Sometimes it's instinctive just jump on the bandwagon.
My impression is that anon works with this nurse in a professional capacity and has learned of the communicable illness through personal conversation. If a layperson learns of a health issue, its disclosure is not protected under HIPAA.
It is certainly possible that the OP doesn't understand methods of contact that pose a true risk of transmission for the biggest suspects here, HIV and Hep C. It's clear, though, that they do not want to have a discussion here to educate themselves and tease out whether the nurse is actually doing anything dangerous at all.
The BON shouldn't be your go-to with every question about an individual nurse's practice. Why aren't they asking a manager within the hospital, on a hypothetical basis, e.g. "If a healthcare worker has X does that put patients at risk?" I don't think having the concern is malicious, but I think being determined to report the nurse instead of investigating whether the concern is valid... well, that I find a little suspect. They responded to questions with retorts instead of answers. If OP wanted information instead of a discussion, Google might have been a better option.