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

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Just because you have 30 days to produce the required documents does not mean that the law does not require the CEUs to have been completed within the licensing period. In other words, I wouldn't automatically assume you have a 30-day extension of the time to meet the requirement. I'm not claiming to know the regs of your state, just pointing out that you need to be clear about what exactly the "30 days" means.

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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.

Thanks sweetie for your response but you see, the reason I am trying to get proof of CEUs earned at the former employer is because the CEUs must date back the past 2 years. Getting them now should not help my situation, except to show them that I am now in compliance for the next 2 years.

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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.

I *DO* hope you're right there! I mean, if you don't have something from the past, all you can do is get it now, right? And of course pay the fine or whatever they are going to make me do . . . .

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Specializes in Correctional, QA, Geriatrics.
Just because you have 30 days to produce the required documents does not mean that the law does not require the CEUs to have been completed within the licensing period. In other words, I wouldn't automatically assume you have a 30-day extension of the time to meet the requirement. I'm not claiming to know the regs of your state, just pointing out that you need to be clear about what exactly the "30 days" means.

Good point & I stand corrected on that. I was speaking not from personal experience (thank goodness lol) but from seeing some co workers experience this issue. They did receive a monetary fine for being out of the time frame but the BON, at that time, did allow them to submit the CEUs earned during that 30 day "grace period" and considered the issue resolved.

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Just because you have 30 days to produce the required documents does not mean that the law does not require the CEUs to have been completed within the licensing period. In other words, I wouldn't automatically assume you have a 30-day extension of the time to meet the requirement. I'm not claiming to know the regs of your state, just pointing out that you need to be clear about what exactly the "30 days" means.

The letter from the board says I have until 5/3/12 to provide what they are asking for. Probably they give ya those 30 days because they know nurses often have to dig this stuff out of boxes or, as in my case, ask a former employer for proof of it. :icon_roll

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Good point & I stand corrected on that. I was speaking not from personal experience (thank goodness lol) but from seeing some co workers experience this issue. They did receive a monetary fine for being out of the time frame but the BON, at that time, did allow them to submit the CEUs earned during that 30 day "grace period" and considered the issue resolved.

Ohhhh okay. Thank you for sharing that. That gives me optimism! Which I desperately need right now!! :bow:

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BTW, can somebody tell me how I can get my PM privileges enabled now that I have responded to a couple of ppl's threads? I have a PM I'd like to answer but don't think my answer is getting to the person because of the policy of newbies not being able to PM. Tks if anyone knows.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You need to have a minimum of 15 "quality" posts. You have 13 right now. Medscape is gret because they keep track in your online account and they are free.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

With experience as a nurse manager and in Human Resources, I will tell you not to bother with your former employers. First of all, it is not a priority for them and they are not likly to respond to your request in a timely manner. Secondly, it is highly unlikely they have the certificates you need.

I was responsible for maintaining records for my unit staff verifying that they were current on BLS, NRP, ACLS state licensure and other hospital required yearly courses. I maintained records of the expiration dates of their "competencies" but did not keep CEU certificates for the same reason that the BON doesn't want them...I would have drowned in paper. It was the employees' responsibility to maintain their own file to be produced (to me or to the BON) upon request.

Be prepared for a license suspension until the CEUs are complete, as well as a fine an possible monitoring of your license in the future.

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If I were you I would get all of your CEUs now. I think I read for my state when this kind of thing happens they give you a grace period. So I would encourage you to waste no time and get online and get them completed NOW!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Do the bioterrorism one now. You may be able to skate on that if you say you thought you did it, but you didn't. I would never encourage someone to lie; you have to do what's in your conscience.

Nursing Spectrum has free CEUs. Some of the courses are worth 6-8 CEUs. You have 30 days. If you knuckle under, you can get those CEUs done.

Good luck. I guess this is one of those mistakes you'll never repeat.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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. :confused: 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. :(

Yeah...I would be too paranoid to do that. I would be afraid they'd have caller ID and nail me.

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