Placed on nurse aide abuse registry...please no judgement...need advice

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Hello,

And thank you for taking the time to read my post. Any input would be greatly appreciated at this point. I'm going to tell my story and I will be as honest as I can with my memory as this is been a decade ago.

Right out of high school I was accepted into a nursing program, I had to work full-time at the time and was unable to complete the program… However I was able to finish my geriatrics clinicals as well as others, so I was able to take the CNA test and I passed.

I worked for about a head in a LTC and loved it. I then met my partner (I'm a male, were a gay couple), and he was accepted into the graduate program (pharmacy school) in the middle of nowhere Kentucky. I moved to Kentucky with him, and I was able to find a job at a small nursing home… From the beginning I could tell the staff wasn't comfortable with me

This was around the time that the Brokeback mountain movie had came out… they would constantly make slurs to me and pretty much harass me. I dreaded every day I went to work. I worked night shift and the charge nurse was very openly homophobic. She disliked me very much.

Anyway, I was doing my rounds one night while the nurse was doing her med pass. I kind of shook a patient (he wasn't responsive and I thought maybe he had passed). Well the next day I got a call from the DON saying I needed to get there stat. So I did. And she advised me that the night shift nurse has told her I was pushing a resident aggressively, and that I would be immediately suspended until an investigation was completed.

It is my understanding that the ombudsman came in and did an investigation. They found the claim to be substantiated and I relieved a letter in the mail stating that I had to attend an administrative hearing.

The day before the administrative hearing my mother had passed away. I didn't even think to call them and reschedule bc there was so much going on.

This resulted in my name being placed on an abuse registry. I've tried to challenge it and get another hearing but they won't have it.

Since then I have completed a BS in Computer Science. I was recently let go from my job and they are willing to pay tuition for certain types of training. I've ALWAYS wanted to be a nurse. I applied for an LPN program and was accepted. I'm supposed to start in March.

I'm cleared on the FBI background check, and I've also contacted the OIG and they verified I'm not on the sanctions list. However, my name is on the nurse aide abuse registry.

If i if I complete this program is this going to cause me issues getting licensed ? I live in another state now. I've never wanted to be anything but a nurse. For years I've let the fear of even trying cripple me. I just don't want to go through this program and not be able to be licensed. I don't even want to work in LTC. This is a 1+1 program--the first year is LPN, second is RN and then you get a nursing diploma.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I know legal advice can't be given on here. But any input would be greatly appreciated.

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I have no idea. I would ask someone in a position of authority at your school or consult an attorney that is familiar with the BON in your current state. I wasn't even aware there was a list of this nature. Is this a state organization?

Did they pull or sanction your CNA license? If so, that may cause you a problem. You are usually required to report all licenses or certifications that you have previously held to the BON in the state you wish to get a license in.

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I cannot really give you any valid advice, but I truly feel for you. I hope that everything works out for you :-)

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Being placed on the abuse registry is as serious as it gets. You would not be able to work in a facility that accepts Medicare, which is just about all of them.

I don't know if the nurse aide abuse sanction would follow you to professional licensure. You need to consult a lawyer, before you go forward with your studies.

" For years I've let the fear of even trying cripple me. ". You must face your fears head on.

I wish I had a BS in computer science, nursing sucks.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to appropriate forum

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In State of Kentucky there is a nurse aide abuse registry- and actually serves an amazing purpose, it keeps track of nurse aide who have been found guilty of neglect or abuse. However having your name on the registry, doesn't prevent you from working as an aide, it only prevent you from working as an aide in long-term care facility....However you can still be employed and other fields, i.e. Home health, but it prevents you from working in a long term care setting.

I'm going to start contacting attorneys tomorrow, I just need to get my finances straightened out before I can afford the assistance of an attorney. The lady who is over the nurse aide abuse registry told me that an attorney would be pointless, so I'm not sure if that's just what she is supposed to say or if that is factual information

I want this more than anything. As far as the school goes, I am afraid to say anything to them. I have passed all of their background checks including their OIG check and their FBI background check. I have also contacted the OIG and confirmed that I am not on any sanction list whatsoever.

I want this more than anything, I was hoping to hear some feedback from people who maybe went through similar situations. I will definitely start contacting lawyers tomorrow. Thanks to all of you who have responded.

On a side note, I have since worked in a hospital in network administration… But I am not sure what kind of background check they did because that's been a few years ago, And it did not involve any direct patient care

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I have no idea. I would ask someone in a position of authority at your school or consult an attorney that is familiar with the BON in your current state. I wasn't even aware there was a list of this nature. Is this a state organization?

Did they pull or sanction your CNA license? If so, that may cause you a problem. You are usually required to report all licenses or certifications that you have previously held to the BON in the state you wish to get a license in.[/quote

This is a state maintained list, and as I stated it has been over a decade so I know longer have an actual CNA certification that is active

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Thank you for your input. I really appreciate it. And I am not going to let the fear cripple me anymore. I want this more than anything, and I'm ready to find out whether it's something I can do or not.

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*no not know

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Specializes in ICU.

Friend of LGBT here. Urgh not one person that worked there stopped the bullying. Sorry you went through that, I know I would have stopped it. Anyone else reading this stop bullying each other. Let the LGBT umbrella, new grads, men, minorities, different dialects, and foreign nurses feel comfortable at work. If it makes you uncomfortable that any of those groups are present while you work....quick and go off the grid or save enough money to buy your own private island.

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Thanks everyone for your kind words of encouragement. I contacted the board of nursing today and was advised as long as I am not working under the title of CNA that I am employable as a nurse and I would have no issue taking the NCLEX and obtaining professional licensure

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Specializes in ICU.

I am happy for you.

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