Nurses' Rights

[wishingmary2]

Can a state board of nursing seize an individual nurse's employment file from his/her place of employment without explanation? This is happening to a wonderful nurse I know. No letter has been sent to her. Place of employment does not know why the employment file is being demanded. She is scared to death! If she is being accused of something, shouldn't it be made known to her so she can defend herself or our we at our board's and disgruntled patient's or families mercy with no rights at all. I know another nurse who received a letter from her board of nursing saying only there has been a complaint and that she is to be at the state office on such and such day at such and such hour, no explanation, no way for her to bring to mind what happened by revieweing a chart if she knew who it was about, nothing. Do nurses have any rights? If so, what are they?

[Batman25]

I don't have any experience with this but I thought you would receive a letter if there was a problem and what it was pertaining to. And having someone come to a meeting with no idea what it is about is terrible. Control move. I wouldn't show up without a lawyer. Pass that on to your friend. Tell her not to go alone.

[DogWmn]

Get a lawyer

[wishingmary2]

I suppose I'm shell shocked. The idea of being thought of as guilty before proven innocient is about as unamerican as you can get. To think that nurses have no rights is ...

[Mike A. Fungin RN]

The idea of being thought of as guilty before proven innocient is about as unamerican as you can get.

Welcome to reality. Seen it go down that way more often then not.

[caliotter3]

These people need to get an attorney yesterday. I am certain that they know that. If they don't, I hope someone clues them to the reality of the situation. They also need to inform their malpractice insurance carriers so that their benefits for representation before the board can be accessed.

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

You need to remember one very important fact: the BON is there to protect the public, not nurses. Whenever faced with having to deal with the BON, you should obtain an attorney who specializes in representing nurses.

[summersent]

Nurses have rights? lol

[Katie91]

How horrible!! It's really come down to the "inmates running the asylum". We have NO rights. My guess is that the complaint came from a drug seeker not getting her dilaudid RTC on the dot like he/she thought he/she should. I'm just sayin'. What ever happened to Tort Reform to abolish frivolous law suits???

A lawyer is certainly in order.

[Cat_RN, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome to reality. Seen it go down that way more often then not.

And to think that nurses seem to be regarded worse than criminals here..

[THAT Nurse., MSN, RN, APRN]

Katie,

Lawyers ARE what happened to tort reform. After all, even if they lose, the RN who has to defend against frivolous charges pays the defending lawyer. Money all around.

Another fix: We should be able to sue those who file frivolous charges against us. And serious penalties ought to be applied to serial abusers - not just fines and monetary penalties either.

[Katie91]

Katie,

Lawyers ARE what happened to tort reform. After all, even if they lose, the RN who has to defend against frivolous charges pays the defending lawyer. Money all around.

Another fix: We should be able to sue those who file frivolous charges against us. And serious penalties ought to be applied to serial abusers - not just fines and monetary penalties either.

I agree with you on all points! However, tort reform has kept the frivolous law suits at bay... somewhat. It's still out of control, but not as much as 10-15 years ago. And yes, we should counter-sue and we CAN instead of going into the fetal position and sucking our thumbs if we are depo'd.