PlasticsRN

Agreed it should be blue or black, due to photocopying. Also, I don't think any question is too stupid to ask. After all isn't that one of the purposes of sites like these. To the OP: Don't take these other comments to offense. I had to learn this the hard way!!!

thank you! This is what i needed. I am not sure either why i felt i needed validation. I regret it now. I know i did nothing wrong. -the end-

how many times do i have to say this......i have nothing to gain from this! This is not a relationship war. I am not out to get anyone, no malice intended....nor is/was the person providing the info to me. They simply thought the person practicing as an lvn was not truely one, came to me since i am a nurse. Asked me 'how do you find out' i showed them....once i realized the person was not a nurse and was practicing as one, i took action (as was my duty) excuse me if you feel i was in the wrong. I simply love my profession and do not want anyone to tarnish our reputation.

i am getting a little frustrated! if i would made my original post but left out the part of the social i would have gotten a completely different response.. i just wanted to know if anyone has been in my shoes. my point in posting this was to see how many other ppl would have had the guts to submit a letter to the state with the information that i had. especially because i had nothing to lose or gain!! i heard they were practicing as an lvn and in fact were not one so i investigated. instead most of the replies have been belittling me, questioning my intentions, almost accusing me of identity theft or selling someone's personal information! stop it ppl! i used the last four digits and this info was given to me by someone who had access to this info from a legal document that was issued to them legally by the state!!!!!!!! the state should not have put that info on the document, yes, but i did nothing illegal. on the other hand, their could be a nurse out their that is treating you, your family, or even worse.....your child. wouldn't you want to know if they were an imposter and not properly educated?????????????????????????????

I was able to verify that they were licensed as a CNA about ten years ago but the license was no longer active. I do not know if maybe they were licensed as a nurse at one point in time, I do not know how to search that. I do know they are currently practicing and identifying them self as one....therefore there licensing should be active!

i see you have been an rn for less than a month ( i too am a new nurse), and i am not sure what state you practice in, but i will educate you on this...i follow the nursing laws and rules according to the board of nursing that licenses me.which leads me to my first point. did you not read what you just quoted? i will repost so you can read it! what information is needed to file a complaint? (according to the board of nursing in the state that licenses me) please provide the identity of the nurse involved, including the correct spelling of the name, and the nursing license number or social security number, if known, to assist us in the event the name is common so the board of nursing demands that this information be provided if it is available. i never shared this information with anyone but the bon. i simply searched using the ss#. also if this person is in fact licensed then the bon already has their ss#! next i dont know if you have ever verified a license online, but there are three ways to do so: 1. nursing license number-which i did not know and am only an acquaintance of this person, therefor i was not going to call them or their employer to get it. 2. first and last name- many people can share their name so i felt this may not help in identifying them. 3. last four digits of ss# and birthdate- this was the most logical way for me to verify the license with out their being a mix up. and it was only the last four digits ppl...not the entire social i hope not to sound caddy or rude. i just do not appreciate my motives being questioned. they were for the safety of potential patients. after all, didn't we go to school to protect out patients, to be their advocate?

I am only an RN and, I too know this is BS.

LOL! although it does appear this way...this is not the case!

also this comes straight from the bons website!!! what information is needed to file a complaint? please provide the identity of the nurse involved, including the correct spelling of the name, and the nursing license number or social security number, if known, to assist us in the event the name is common, as well as a detailed summary of each alleged violation of the npa, including dates of each alleged incident and the medical record number of the patient involved. supplying the medical record number is not a violation of confidentiality. if the incident involves a medication, include the name of the medication. be as specific as possible in describing the events, and include a list of any witnesses with first-hand observations and knowledge of the incident(s).

I thought of that too. But the person who provided me with this info said they have always lived in this state and would have never had an opportunity to go to another state for education. Can you be educated in one state and then get licensed in another? I really didn't have the time or desire to research it further, I felt the Board could do that. Like I said, I hope this person is in fact licensed, whether it be in this state or another compact state.

Ok so I saw no wrong with simply typing the social security number. I did nothing else with this person's private info. I never even wrote the number down, it came straight from someone's mouth to the Licensed Vocational Nurse Online Verification spot on the BONs website. I am sure if I tried hard enough and had the right skills I could have tracked this person's SS# down off the internet. BUT I DIDN'T. If you are still hung up on the idea of me violating HIPAA (which I DID NOT) or invading someone's privacy, I don't know what to tell you. I dont have to explain myself to anyone but the BON. And I did that in the letter I provided to them. According to the NPA: Sec. 301.402. Mandatory Report by Nurse. (b)A nurse shall report to the Board in the manner prescribed under Subsection (d) if the nurse has reasonable cause to suspect that: (1)another nurse has engaged in conduct subject to reporting; So what conduct is subject to reporting? Sec. 301.451. Certain Prohibited Practices. A person may not: (1)sell, fraudulently obtain, or fraudulently furnish a nursing diploma, license, renewal license, or record; (2)assist another person in selling, fraudulently obtaining, or fraudulently furnishing a nursing diploma, license, renewal license, or record; (3)practice nursing under a diploma, license, or record that was: (A) obtained unlawfully or fraudulently; or (B)signed or issued unlawfully or under false representation; Does anyone else read the NPA?

Stupid question...what does "OP" mean?

So the person that gave me this info is an ex relative, that at some point in time had access to this info for some reason or another. I don't care care what that reason is. I am just an acquaintance to the LVN. I have met this person and in the short time I have known them we have had conversations about nursing, so i know they identify them self as a nurse. I could care less if they are in fact licensed or not...I care if they are practicing as a nurse and in fact have no formal education. I will reiterate that there was no ill will intended on my part. I am a concerned nurse who wants to make sure that the patients who come in contact with this person are receiving competent care. It is not my job to investigate this, but it is someones!

So I know this person who is an LVN, or so I thought until recently. I was informed by someone close to this person that they in fact were not an LVN. I then decided to look at the BON website and find out if they were licensed. I could not find this person anywhere with any info I put in...Not even with the correct SS# or Birthdate! I then thought maybe they were a MA and just told ppl they were an LVN. But after I talked to this person's place of business I found out that they were in fact practicing with the title of LVN. So I sent a letter to the board because I felt it my obligation to do so. Did I overstep any boundaries? I think not, but I am sure someone has to have a different opinion than me. Also, I am a little worried that this may come back on me. I had no ill will toward this person, I was simply concerned and appalled that someone could get away with this. Hopefully for this persons sake they are in fact licensed and for some reason I just could not find it.

The facility that employes me is small, two ORs. I work for one plastic surgeon, doing 1-5 surgeries a week in our facility. Yes I do have an enormous amount to learn. The doc just agreed to pay for the PERIOP 101: A CORE CURRICULUM course from the AORN.