sainttchristopher

I just got back from the Board. Everything was fine. My license was activated while I drove home. The person from the Board was very understanding and professional. "You're not the only one who has forgotten to renew on time, but don't let it happen again." I know that I am very very lucky. That said: Some of you guys are rough! I think that nurses are fairly notorious for being hard on one another. I also think that nurses have a reputation in taking a fair amount of self-righteous joy when other nurses make mistakes. In part, I understand it. Nurses have a very important job, and mistakes can quite literally cost patients their lives. But I think that a little perspective as to the nature of the mistake is important. I am also probably being too sensitive. But my point stands: We should strive be kind to one another. Thanks to all for the advice. This won't happen to me again.

With all due respect: you have no idea what my specific job entails. I'm helping to develop a software system for tracking employee records for the facility where I work. It's a big job and it will take a month or so. You don't have to be an RN to do that part of my job. Based only on your posts on this thread: you sound like a bully. Nobody likes bullies.

Thank you so much!

Oh, wow I WISH I was as weird as you! Then i wouldn't be in this situation. Also being able to remember all of those numbers is pretty cool. I can absolutely guarantee that this will never ever happen again! Thanks for all of the tips!

Oh my it's another nurse who isn't 100% perfect! I was beginning to think I was the only one! Thank you so much for sending me the good thoughts. It sincerely means a lot to me. I haven't slept in 2 days because of this, and your reply genuinely made me feel better. I spoke to my employer, and they are totally fine with me doing non-nurse duties (i.e. tons of paperwork.) until I get this resolved. They were very understanding "Hey, it happens. Just do us a favor and don't do it again." was the extent of it. Today I also spoke to the department head at the school I'm currently attending. This is the school I intend to go to for my NP. I wasn't taking classes while me license was expired, so that's fine. She told me that in her experience, a permanent disciplinary action on my license for something like this would be completely unprecedented, and she would be shocked if the board took it that far. I'll know more by Friday. Thank you again for the good vibes.

I'm in Pennsylvania. I did a little research into disciplinary actions, and it looks like the people who were fined and reprimanded were working under an expired license for a very long time. 14 months in one case ($1000 fine and a mark on the record) and over 3 years in another ($1500 fine and a mark on the record). These were from 2008 and 2011 respectively. I couldn't find anything from 2011 until present. I put a call into the Board, and I'm waiting on a call back. I will keep you updated.

Thank you for the advice and the good will. I do accept responsibility, which I felt I made clear in the original post. But I am human, and I made a mistake. My address info is updated. My BON does have walk in hours. I am going to call and make sure that I have all the paperwork ready before I make the 3 hour drive to the office. My state has a 30 day grace period, which expired last week. I have been a nurse for 8 years and I have never had any issues with the board. I don't expect to get off scott free, but I think that suspending my license, or jeopardizing my current job and future career is excessive. I understand that practicing with an expired license is serious, but I hardly think that forgetting to renew my license for a handful of weeks makes me history's greatest monster.

Thanks for the reply. I am off work until Monday, and I'm driving down to the BON on Friday to hand deliver my paperwork. Any idea of the chances of my getting my license reinstated that day?

I messed up. My RN license expired 5 weeks ago, and I just realized it yesterday. I've been working on an expired license for 5 weeks! I know that it is my responsibility, and I dropped the ball. But here are my excuses: I currently work in occupational health as a contractor. In the past, my manager would alert the staff as to when their RN license was about to expire. No such entity exists at my current job. Also: I moved recently. I didn't recieve the renewal notice for the BON. (I also didn't alert the BON as to my change of address, so there you go.) Again, I understand that these aren't valid excuses, and I feel really REALLY stupid. I'm up to date on all of my CEUs. I'm going back for my BSN, so I have tons of credits. There have been zero issues with my license in the past, and for what it's worth, my current job can be considered "Nursing Lite". I do not give out meds or treat patients. I essentially take vital signs and give hearing and vision tests. I do sign 'RN" after my name, and I know that it is necessary for an RN to do my job, however. My question: What kind of penalties can I expect? Is there anything I can do or say to the board that might help? I have the ultimate goal of becoming an NP, and I don't want a mark on my license to keep me from getting accepted into an NP program. I love my job, and I don't want to get my employer into trouble or make any waves. Any and all advice would be appreciated.