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?

Something not to sweat about...;)

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Specializes in Pedi.

This really is a non-issue. My current nurse manager is licensed by one last name in the state she works in and another in the state that she lives in. Her email has one last name but her voicemail has the other. I have another former colleague whose nursing license is hyphenated with her maiden name-married name but she only ever used her maiden name on any work documents. My best friend's mother's nursing license is first married name-second married name and she dropped the first married name from her legal name like 35 years ago. If you're separated from your husband and intend on getting divorced, I'd just change back to your maiden name legally and then you don't have to change anything with the BoN.

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Yep - the only issue with a name change is if it's being done for fraud/to evade prosecution, that sort of thing.

PS I've been married for over 25 years and my father still refers to me by my maiden name when introducing me, and he loves my husband like a son. :D It's all good. The licensing board just wants the bucks.

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Specializes in Maternal-Child, Women's Health.

The name on your license should be the name that you use on employment records and signing as your name with "RN" after it.

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Specializes in Home health.

I'm really scared I will loose my liscence. I got my liscence and it says my maiden name 20 years ago...I got married about 15 years ago and even though I sent in my paperwork 3 times it never got changed on my nursing liscence my employer has been electronically stamping my documents with my married name as that is on my social and driver's license, my nursing still has maiden name. I just put In a password and it "signs it" i just found this out randomly and i reported to my employer but the system they use can't put in maiden name for other computer reasons? I'm freaked out that I will get in trouble now...thoughts?

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