Practicing without a license

[OR_RN12345]

We recently had a situation at work where a scrub tech led staff to believe she had just graduated with her BSN. She was to be hired as a graduate nurse. She was still under the job title of ST, but had oriented a few days as a circulator. When pressed for her credentials, the truth came out that she had lied about the whole thing for over 3 years. She was in nursing school, but was only half way done. However, management has told us that they are not reporting this to the board of nursing since, after reviewing charts, she did not do anything that is a strictly RN role. She had inserted foleys, prepped, and counted. According to management, the only thing that only an RN can do in surgery is medication management. Since she did not sign the med sheet, she did not practice without a license. Does anyone else agree that this doesn't seem right? By that logic, the only role of the RN in the OR is med management. I kind of feel like my hard work to get my BSN was not worth it since a tech with half the training can do virtually everything I can in the OR. A floor RN has many more responsibilities than a tech, but not so in the OR.

[EricG]

Read the following clearly and without bias please! You must report to your facilities corporate compliance people/ line if you choose not to follow immediate chain of command for whatever reason.

DO THE RIGHT THING FOR all those involved! You will come out on top and more likely to be respected in the end.

Just Do The Right Thing!!!!!

It's so fundamentally basis it IS beyond the daily interpretation of the word BASIC. Adapt and move on. And keep your head down, eyes wide open. NO SURPRISES!

[elcue]

You said: I kind of feel like my hard work to get my BSN was not worth it since a tech with half the training can do virtually everything I can in the OR. A floor RN has many more responsibilities than a tech, but not so in the OR

Don't sell yourself - and the rest of us- short. Every day, with every patient, you make assessments and plan your care accordingly. Techs don't have the education to assess patients.

[Circl8r]

As a registered nurse, it is is your duty as a professional to report this to your state board of nursing. If she's done it once, she'll do it again, and needs to be stopped before something catastrophic happens to a patient.

Remember, the bottom line IS the patient!

[jnl2000]

My Goodness! Not only does the Tech need to be prevented from getting her License but YOUR Manager should be reported as well for doing nothing. I Will be happy to do it if you don't just give me the info. Also if you don't do it yourself it could be viewed as aiding and abeding.

[ImpressMeSilly]

I would have to agree, reporting this would be the most responsible thing you can do. If you do not feel comfortable doing this then submit the information anonymously. You did work hard for your BSN, and you need to protect it. In the BSN program we are taught ethics and morals, and those boundaries have been crossed by the management team that you put your trust into. Do what you believe is right!! Good Luck, and keep us posted.

[shodobe]

You said: I kind of feel like my hard work to get my BSN was not worth it since a tech with half the training can do virtually everything I can in the OR. A floor RN has many more responsibilities than a tech, but not so in the OR

Don't sell yourself - and the rest of us- short. Every day, with every patient, you make assessments and plan your care accordingly. Techs don't have the education to assess patients.

Obviously you don't know the difference between an OR RN and a scrub tech. We tend to remind techs what they can and can't do. GOOD, Qualified techs don't need this reminding.