Oh dear . .Audited for proof of CEUs and don't have

[Norma_Saline]

hello to anybody out there who's reading, and thank you for taking the time to do so.

i can't feel sorry for myself on this one and don't expect anyone else to, but at the same time i hope nobody will bother giving me a lecture because believe me, i already see the error of my ways. my state requires 30 hours of ceus, 4 of which must be bioterrorism but it's my understanding the bioterrorism can be a one-time deal in your career. first, i confess i have never taken the bioterrorism class and every 2 years when i have renewed online i have checked the box swearing and affirming that i have done so, thinking to myself 'yeah yeah, i'll get to it.' as for the remaining 26 ceu hours, i think i have maybe 8. one 7-hour certificate that i have is from an employer that i left in mid 2010. it *barely* fits within the 2-year time frame that my ceus are allowed to be from. yay for that small favor. i called this facility (didn't give my name or any details) and explained when i left the company and asked if by any chance there are other copies of ceus i earned there in my personnel file, explaining that i have lost my proof of ceus. i remember that we had inservices constantly but so far i can only find one certificate but the personnel lady was nasty and said my records would be boxed up somewhere and she wasn't going to take the time to look. i can understand her point of view, but if a former employee needs her to look for something in their file isn't that still a part of her job? that's part of my history, after all! yes, it was my job to keep up with any ceus i earned there. i do know that and as i said, don't need to be lectured. i think my state's policy of "keep up with your own ceus and we'll only ask for proof if we select you for random audit" is kind-of crazy. i'm the kind of person that if you tell me i *must* have something in order to renew my license, of course i'll have it. but to tell me you have to show it only if you're randomly selected, well . . .that apparently wasn't enough incentive for me.

my state's licensing board does not list specifically what the penalty is for not being able to produce adequate proof of ceus upon request; just that it results in disciplinary action. i guess i should just get the bioterrorism thing now and apologize and hope for the best on that one. what else can i do on that. meanwhile i'm still digging in old boxes for ceu certificates and not having much luck. my current employer may be able to help me out. . .sorry so long. if anybody has any input or advice, it is certainly welcome. i have 30 days and of course the ceus must have been earned within the last 2 years. thanks again if you got this far.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

Wow!!!! How horrible! I'm fortunate to live in a state that doesn't require CEU's. I'd be checking with the BON to see what disciplinary actions are coming your way and meanwhile, take as much as you can and run for cover,

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I got audited for the 1st time last year and luckily I had them. Did almost all free on Medscape. I read somewhere that inservices to help do your job don't count or something like that. I wish I had paid more attention!

Anyway, I hope you just get a slap on the hand and lesson learned. I would do them on-line right now so that when the time comes you can say you learned the error of your ways and already took care of business.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

It can be considered fraud since you specifically checked the box that you in fact completed CEUs and the bioterrorism class. This can result in fines and a license suspension at minimum.

[caliotter3]

You know it's really funny in a way, because keeping my CEU certificates is probably the only thing I have been warned about from the beginning of my career and all along. I don't know why. It just struck me that other more important matters have never been emphasized. One older supervisor told me a story one time about how she had found one of her certificates thrown in the trash at work. Not going to make you feel better, just thought it odd that this has always been considered so high a priority. Hope this gets resolved without bad repercussions.

[caliotter3]

If your employer can help you out, I would deal with them. After all, it is to their advantage to have you maintain your license. Best of luck.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

If you don't have the forms from the inservices, see if you can get a signed letter from the people who ran the inservices that states you attended and for how many hours.

As far as the bioterrorism one, try to get it as soon as humanly possible.

Oh, and please, keep all your tax documents. You never know when you might be selected for random audit by the IRS.

[Norma_Saline]

Oh, and please, keep all your tax documents. You never know when you might be selected for random audit by the IRS.

Lol Ashley I actually have those in order, believe it or not!

[Norma_Saline]

If your employer can help you out, I would deal with them. After all, it is to their advantage to have you maintain your license. Best of luck.

Ugh, strike two. My current employer just told me that their inservices are not actually good for CEUs. Thanks for your input though, what you said did make perfect sense.

[Norma_Saline]

Wow!!!! How horrible! I'm fortunate to live in a state that doesn't require CEU's. I'd be checking with the BON to see what disciplinary actions are coming your way and meanwhile, take as much as you can and run for cover,

I would like to call and just hypothetically ask them what the probable penalty will be, or can be, but I am scared they'll start asking my name, etc. :uhoh21: I suspect probably the penalty is just whatever they decide it should be, and probably my actions & attitude will help determine that. (Guessing anyway, since there is no specific penalty listed on the state board's web site). I think I'm seriously going to have to humble myself here. :bowingpur I can't possibly be the first person who did not take the bioterrorism thing though, and I don't recall hearing of anyone losing their license for not taking it. Wish I could find somebody who has been in the same shoes so I could ask what happened to them. But JustBeachy, you are right- it could be considered fraud since I checked the box affirming I had indeed taken the class.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

The penalty is likely defined in the nurse practice act of your state. If your state publishes disciplinary actions in its newsletter or on its website, you can glean some information there too.

[txredheadnurse, BSN, RN]

You do have 30 days to fix this so get cracking and get the CEUs done. There are online sources, mail in courses, etc. Honestly instead of spending all this time trying to get a former employer to give you paperwork just go get the CEUs done already.

Regarding any fines etc check your nurse practice act online. I would speculate that since your BON is giving you 30 days to produce them that if you do so within the requested time frame there would be no or minimal repercussions.