PROBATION with RESTRICTED RN LICENSE - NOW RN REINSTATEMENT : FORMAL HEARING

Published

:( HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN ON PROBATION & HAD A RESTRICTED RN LICENSE?

It's the most humiliating, embarrassing, depressing, angering, situation to be in-- especially when you lose your very first RN job right of school, and you are a person of high integrity and a true passion for nursing in the most safe & professional manner, with your patient being your priority.

It's already been close to 2 years, that I was told "we have to let you go". The 6 most dreaded words anyone wants to hear, especially a brand new nurse!

Dealing with the BON is a nightmare: their hearts are cold as ice & ears are plugged so tight, they lack compassion & listening skills. It is their way,or no way!

I can assure you, no matter if you have an attorney or not, they will NOT listen to your side of the story, PERIOD. They are that closed minded.

I have been sent documents with all of my personal information from the Board of Nursing(BON) several times without the envelopes being sealed!

Is that the way they represent how health professionals are suppose to keep confidential information private?

What about HIPPA? Anyone could have read my entire information, such as a nosey neighbor, or a previous patient. At this point, what I have dealt with these almost 2 years, with BON, I am not impressed with how they do things. They also take a very long time to work your case. Another interesting thing,to add,one of their orders for me, is to grant full permission to allow all BONs to have the right to obtain all of my current, past and future health care records & allow communication with my Healthcare providers!

When I questioned my compliance manager, she said for me "not to worry, they have no need to review my records because I have nothing in my case that would give cause for them to look at them." But it still remains on my orders.

So, I asked, why not remove that? Her answer was, "I think it should be removed, but its one of those generic things that we include." That makes me wonder if that's the reason they used the term: "unsafe nursing practice" in my record.They had no other choice of words in their "generic" vocabulary! You see, I was fired because I gave some late meds!! Do you hear me?

I NEVER came to work enumerated, never took any drugs, or gave any patient the wrong drug, or ever harmed anyone! I GAVE SOME LATE MEDS! On shifts that were crazy busy. Yet I'm labeled for the world to see I'm unsafe. It's on all the data bases! All on the world wide internet. No wonder I have not been able to get hired for a nursing position!

I have applied to over 60 nursing jobs & have hooked 6 interviews.Once they find out I was fired, or have a restricted- on Probation license, I am told , they cannot use me.

I am now very poor. I do not have any insurance, no workman's comp, no medicaid, nothing. I did get a minimum wage job at a local store, & that helps me eat, but in the meantime, I have to live like a bag Lady & stay at relatives houses.

If my nurse manager & DON would have offered me a choice to resign , that would have been better, but they didn't, nor did they want to hear my story regarding my my heavy assignment & what was going on on those shifts. No compassion there either. It's all business: the hospital was preparing to have a safety inspection relating to improvement of their poor past scores, so since I was the new graduate, all eyes were on me. They needed "clean" house, & I was their "dirt!" I sensed that, & it caused me anxiety. The more they watched me, the more anxiety.

*Bottom line: I need a nursing job. I want to do what I've always wanted to do. Be a nurse & use the education, skills & critical thinking I was trained to use, along with the true compassion I have for helping others.

I have to show my potential employer all my BON orders, & have them fill out a form stating what RN, NFP,MD will be in my building, their license number, & what my job description is.

Then they have to fill out an evaluation form every 3 months on how I'm performing.

If I have a good evaluation for 1 full year, my restriction & probation goes away..poof! That easy! The BON tells me they can't understand why I can't get a job. My x-employer tells me the same. Why can't a new nurse get a second chance?

So far, I cant even get a job because of all that mess. The longer I go without a nursing job, the more difficult it will be. All that hard work, financial investment, all to waste.

So much depression & financial burden this whole thing has caused. I'm telling you, the BON is NOT your friend, either is your x-employer.

If I were to do everything all over again, I would not go into nursing. All you students or new grads, like myself, take head to my warning. Healthcare is all business. They only look after their butt.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
Innumbreated?

You are a very inconsiderate. The OP is going through a very stressful time and does not need your jabs from both of your posts. It could be a typo, so why worry about a typo when she has bigger issues on her mind?

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
You are a very inconsiderate. The OP is going through a very stressful time and does not need your jabs from both of your posts. It could be a typo, so why worry about a typo when she has bigger issues on her mind?

Do you really think this post is real, did you read the whole post? Between all the spelling mistakes, the fact that the OP allegedly lost her license due to giving meds to late & the fact that it's a hit & run post (we haven't heard back from the OP & this is the only post she has ever made). Makes it all sound very suspicious.

Specializes in Medical-ICU.

As an unexperienced nurse this frightened me. For a second, I thought why haven't I been let go. I have definitely given meds late before.

I guess I mirror what what everyone else has said. What is the entire story? Was there significant harm done to the patient or patients? Would long term care be an option? Physicians office?

Definitely more to this story. OP was terminated and found guilty by the board for unsafe nursing practice 2 years ago as a new grad according to the story.

Was the OP still in orientation? How late were these meds and what exactly were they? And is the OP still in contact with the "x-employer" who tells her they can't understand why she cannot get a job? If so, why?

Something more serious than late meds must have happened for the former employer to not only fire, but report the termination to the board of nursing. I've seen plenty new employees be told that it isn't working out or that they are terminated, but not one of them was reported to the board.

OP, if you are indeed a new nurse who has a restricted license, finding a job will not be easy. What have you done to resolve the issue regarding medication administration and time management? Have you taken any remedial courses or sought CEUs or coaching?

A future employer is going to look at what you have done to correct the problem before they even consider hiring you. Whether you were the scapegoat or a real problem, the ball is in your court to prove this kind of issue will be a non-issue for a new employer.

I wish you luck.

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

My question exactly. Me thinks there are facts missing. I also wonder what HIPAA has to do with this? Neighbors reading her records?

I'm sorry for the position that you're in. I don't understand how administering medications late can place a restriction on your license?
Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

NURSES pay attention to detail....

You are a very inconsiderate. The OP is going through a very stressful time and does not need your jabs from both of your posts. It could be a typo, so why worry about a typo when she has bigger issues on her mind?
Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Poster is an 18 non-nurse---pretty sure this one slipped right by him/her!

Do you really think this post is real, did you read the whole post? Between all the spelling mistakes, the fact that the OP allegedly lost her license due to giving meds to late & the fact that it's a hit & run post (we haven't heard back from the OP & this is the only post she has ever made). Makes it all sound very suspicious.

Dear new nurse,

I am sorry to hear you have had to deal with the BON so soon, but know that you are not the only one. I have made the BON **** list 4 times, all my fault for failure to chart narcotics every single time I gave them. I worked in critical care. My first mistake came in 2007, 15 years after becoming one of the best nurses I knew. I was on my game, but I worried more about the patients getting turned or fed or bathed or getting blood products or not pulling out their ET tube......you have to do all that AND do your charting. You have to learn to protect your patient and YOURSELF. If you got fired you should be able to get unemployment. I did for a year before I found another job.

People want to hear the truth and that you are sorry and what you have done to make sure you won't make that mistake again. Well, sometimes when people are looking for those same mistakes, they most likely are going to find them. We are nurses, we make mistakes, but most of all we are there to make sure nothing bad ever happens to your patient. If that puts you out of a job, then look elsewhere. I'm curious, what state did this happen in? Some BON's are harder on their nurses than others. I live in Iowa and I have screwed up my electronic charting 3 times. I went back to school and took a job as a caregiver for 2 1/2 years because I couldn't find a job. I recently applied for multiple jobs and had 3 or 4 that were willing to hire me. They said they like to give people a second chance. They were all nursing homes which I was fine with, but now the next hurdle for me is that I didn't pass the background check because of a felony that has been expunged but still visible to the DHS who has more power the a Board of Nursing. I have learned that the people that work for the board are just doing their jobs. They do listen to your story, but hospitals are very powerful especially when they have the evidence. They do want to make sure you get a fair chance even if it means putting you on probation so that they can make sure you learn from your mistakes. My BON investigator actually called the DHS for me to see why he would pass me, and it was for good reason, which I admit even if I know I could never do anything to hurt a patient, never. Charting is one of those things that probably won't hurt a patient but I have seen it where another nurse is helping someone who is behind and didn't chart meds she has given and the nurse helping readministers the same meds not knowing they were given already. Now you and I know you did not mean for anything bad to happen and maybe nothing bad did happen, but it could. Keep the faith and keep looking. Apply to 20 jobs a day but apply to jobs that you can do and apply to places that need help. There are lots of little towns that need nurses and will take just about anyone. You are young so don't give up yet unless you really feel like nursing is just not for you anymore. There are always going to be mistakes, most of them don't get noticed by supervisors or there wouldn't be any nurses. Doctors make mistakes too. If you need to make money maybe look into being a caregiver in someone's home. I found a man willing to pay me a nurses salary to take care of him 40 hours a week. I'd still be there if he hadn't died. Are you a BSN? I don't remember, but if you aren't maybe going back to school and getting a loan will help you with you're money problems and you will have a chance to do some more nursing as a student. I wish you luck and hope you find an answer soon.

I am going to my Formal Hearing in mid JULY, for my request for reinstatement of my license. I got dismissed ( fired) from my very first RN job after the first 8 months. i gave 10 meds late within 2 mo time, & didn’t call doctor . Being a brand new RN in a brand new hospital, I still was in the unbelievable mode that I was really a REAL licensed RN. I would often seek my preceptor , charge nurse & senior staff nurses for advice ( as if in school). My time management was not at its best, even though I tried constantly to improve.

Being fired after I graduated was one of the most devastating experiences I have had.

Now, I’m ready to try again & prove I am a safe & a competent nurse!

I have applied to approx 100++ jobs. I was interviewed for a few, but once I honestly disclosed I was “flagged” & had probation terms, the interview was halted. Each interview expressed how much they liked me & how they liked my resume & experience, they couldn't hire me because it would look bad on their records, or I would be the only RN on duty certain times & woyld not have a supervisor.

I never harmed a patient. I never gave the wrong med to a patient, I never used drugs/ alcohol & I have a clean background.Oh yeah, I should add, I am 62 years “young” & plan to work, God willing , another 10-13 more years.

Has anyone had to do go before the BON IN A FORMAL HEARING to convince them I am a safe nurse? I am to demonstrate to to them that I’m a safe nurse.

This is rather anxiety provoking to me, since I must present my own case.

I do not desire to work as a RN in the hospital anymore unless its to teach new mothers baby care & lactation, or be a patient advocate ir teach CNA’s ( or where ever God wants to place me).

Will and can someone help advise me??

thanks?

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Are you applying to LTC facilities and SNFs? Remote rural areas? Oregon State Hospital is desperate for staff. In short, you have to be willing to consider any place that wants a warm body.

Unfortunately, ageism is alive and well. Being a new grad is another obstacle and so is not currently having an active license. That really limits your options until you've gotten a foot in any door and had a chance to build a track record.

I hope you score something good soon. Best wishes.

+ Join the Discussion