Nursing without license

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Hi everybody,

I have been searching throughout the forums for information regarding legal implications of Nurses practicing without a license, either status "denied" or "expired" . The other day at work one of my co-workers searched the license verification site and found more than one nurse working on our floor with questionable license status :angryfire . Any info would be appreciated

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

It is illegal.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

in texas if you practice nursing without a license you are reported to the district attorney in that county...then they give you a new title...nurse imposter...

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Specializes in ER.

I've just read an article on nurse impostors taking advantage of the nursing shotage, I can't remember which nursing magazine. In this case the BON not only reported the impostor but he was fined, plus paid court costs and was sentenced to one year in jail plus two in supervised probation.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
In Texas if you practice nursing without a license you are reported to the District Attorney in that county...Then they give you a new title...NURSE IMPOSTER...

I've also wondered if the employing facility ever faces consequences as well. Some don't pick up on the license problem for months!

In Texas we get a BON bulletin quarterly and it has pictures of these "nurses" plus a description of what happened.

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

Just out of curiosity, what prompted your co-worker to do the license check? Is there something going on or did someone clue her into the fact that their license might be expired?

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I almost wonder if it's a felony...passing narc's without a license...I wonder how many imposters are out there!

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I'm not sure why they were checking...maybe just the general behavior or poor nursing skills of the nurse involved...I'll have to ask tomorrow when I go in to work. I do know that after we heard we all went online to see for ourselves. Some of us are still in shock but mostly just pissed off because of the betrayal

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Ya I just read my bulletin and there is always about 4 or 5 people that try to pass themselves off as nurses. I dont know about facilities getting in trouble just because they hired someone without a valid license..you would think so. But I do know this if that person hurts a patient, that facility is in big trouble.

I've also wondered if the employing facility ever faces consequences as well. Some don't pick up on the license problem for months!

In Texas we get a BON bulletin quarterly and it has pictures of these "nurses" plus a description of what happened.

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.
I'm not sure why they were checking...maybe just the general behavior or poor nursing skills of the nurse involved...I'll have to ask tomorrow when I go in to work. I do know that after we heard we all went online to see for ourselves. Some of us are still in shock but mostly just pissed off because of the betrayal

Yes, I would be feeling the same as you do, very betrayed. Have you alerted the higher powers to this fact? If it was me, I would be telling someone. How dare anyone "knowingly" work with an expired license:angryfire . The safety of the patients may be at stake here, if it was poor nursing skills that set of the alarms. Keep us updated.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

And something else I am wondering . Was the nurses license verified before they were hired and do they have a HR/staff development person to keep track of the expired or getting ready to expire license's..

Just out of curiosity, what prompted your co-worker to do the license check? Is there something going on or did someone clue her into the fact that their license might be expired?
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Yes, the bosses do know. Apparently there is suppose to be some big meeting with the CNO to determine the fate of the nurses...to me their should be no question regarding their jobs...and only two words need to be spoken during the meeting "you're fired".

I know I had to hand over my orignal license when I was hired. I think they were GN's (grad nurses) at hire and maybe failed the boards or never took the boards...either way it's totally criminal

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