Never changed maiden name to married name

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So I dropped the ball here, I didn't know I had to change my name on my nursing license. I got licensed back in 2008 as lpn. Got married in 2009, but never changed my name to married name. It's still in my maiden name. Funny thing is I am now separated from my ex husband. I hadn't worked as a nurse until late last year at a private doctors office, after I had gotten separated. I'm wanting to go back to school for my rn as I have 3 little ones to support, but I'm so afraid that they are going to take my license away because of this. I didn't do this intentionally, I wasn't trying to fraud anybody. It's really an honest mistake. Does anyone have abt experience with something like this?

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Just to add, I'm sick to my stomach over this í ½í¸Œ

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Specializes in ICU, ER, NURSING EDUCATION.

I'm just wondering, dId you ever change your maiden name legally on other documents? Social security card etc? Youre not going to lose your license, it's all going to be ok. Good luck to you in nursing school.

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Thank you!

Yes I did, I changed social and license. But since I didn't work as a nurse I guess it just slipped my mind. I didn't even think to do it. I'm so angry at myself.

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I think you are making a bigger deal out if this than it is.

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Call the Board and talk to someone about this. Unless you change your surname back to your maiden name, you are going to have to deal with this at some point. Might as well get it over with now.

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Specializes in NICU.

It may be a hassle to deal with but no you aren't going to lose your license.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

As a matter of fact, every US citizen is completely free to change his or her first, last or middle name or all of them at any point of life and for whatever reason. There will not be any actions on your license, or any other problem except of a royal hassle and some $$ paid for changing everything from SSN to Amazon account.

I did that two months after getting my RN (and 10+ years after marriage), nobody had a word. Hey, they got my $50 or so for that, after all, so why should they ever complain?

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

It would be one thing if you had a license with one name and a job with another name in an attempt to obscure any actions on your license. You just didn't take care of all the paperwork at the time and it wasn't an issue because you weren't working. Now you want to go back to work (or school) and you need the names to match so you're updating paperwork.

Truly, no biggie.

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Ditto what others said...you won't lose your license. You didn't do anything illegal. If you are going to keep your married name despite the divorce, you will just have to show a marriage license or legal name change document to update your license to your married name. If you are going to switch back to your maiden name, you shouldn't have to do anything for your license. Whatever you do, take a deep breath and don't worry.

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i have a friend who is a dentist. She got married after becoming a dentist and practices under her maiden name because ut was easir than changing the info. she has been this way for 20 years. dont worry. it is not illegal to practice under your maiden name.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Just a P.S. to OP:

Once you get a Court order to change your name, ask for a whole lot of certified copies right then and there. About 20 of them would be about right. Tell that you have to change professional license, so they understand. For a while, you'll have to show/send one to pretty much everyone and some agencies, including Boards, won't return them. Michigan Boards wanted two copies for some reason. So, you better get them there for free - or else you'll have to come back and probably pay $5-10 for each.

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