Reporting of disciplinary actions by boards of nursing

[TrixieHobbit]

Hi all! I'm an RN student writing a short paper for my leadership class about ethics and have chosen to focus on the reporting of nurses by state BON who receive disciplinary action.  I know in my own state (Oregon) that a list  of names and offenses is published in our quarterly magazine; and of course, there are plenty of details online - by looking up license verification and results of board of nursing hearings. 

I'd love to know whether other states also publish print and online versions of nurses and their disciplinary actions?

Also what are your thoughts on the balance between transparency and protecting public safety, vs protecting the privacy of nurses?    And if you've received disciplinary action, how has it affected your career and personal life? 

 Thanks!!

[Curious_Bethy]

Hi,

I got disciplinary action on my license and it was publish on my BON's website, on top of the page, like a headliner, it says "Please share this information to your Nursing Staff". 

Needless to say, having a discipline affected my whole being. 

Difficult to find a job, my confidence level suffered, depression, self-blame etc. I'm still trying to pick up the pieces of myself until now.

In my opinion, transparency is indeed important, but having to post nurses with discipline on the BON's website with their names, Lic. #, penalty fee, even the city where we live is posted.... I often think that ex-convicts has better opportunities than a nurse with discipline in this country.

 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Info in this thread may help you:

 

The Nursing Licensure Compact and Its Disciplinary Provisions: What Nurses Should Know

Nursing Boards' Disciplinary Actions: Learn What's at Stake

[TrixieHobbit]

Thank you for sharing that.  It does seem strange that in a profession that tries to be non-judgmental and understands addiction as a disease and values privacy and confidentiality and encourages the disclosure of mistakes in order to improve systemic problems, that the response to people who have been disciplined would be so oriented towards shaming and public humiliation.  I'm sorry you had to go through that.