Reporting a nurse who has been arrested.

Why do we bother reporting to the attorney general or the

state board of nursing in our state (Indiana) regarding knowing of

a nurse that has been arrested for distributing illegal drugs

if they inform that person that you have reported it and

that they are not going to do anything about it and will not

be taking away her license?

Maybe I read the fine print wrong but I thought that was part o of our rules and regulations, --to protect our residents and other co-workers.

Just doesn't make sense to me ---almost like patting them on

the back and saying --Oh that's ok! I'm talking about an

adult---not a teenager here.

[Cathy Wilson, RN]

I would pursue this situation further with the BON in Indiana! It is absolutely NOT necessary to reveal your name when her arrest is a matter of public record, just brought to their attention by you. What they decide to do depends upon what your Nurse Practice Act says.

[donmurray]

In the UK the court routinely informs the nurses licensing body if a nurse is convicted of a crime. They then decide if it should be taken further.

[caliotter3]

I observed a nurse in a criminal act, reported it to the police, and to the employer. However, I did not report anything to the board because I found out that the board would inform her about my report. Furthermore, nothing happened. So I would have physically endangered myself, (a position I was in anyway), for nothing. That nurse still practices, and probably in the setting in which they committed the crime! My conscience is clear.

[netrn]

I first contacted the Indiana State Board and their reply was:

"The Indiana nurse practice act does state that if a nurse knows of another nurse who has violated the nurse practice act, they would need to file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General. "

Of which I did and of which the form on the internet says if

they feel there is a problem where they need to contact the

state board of nursing then they will investigate which means

showing what was reported and by who.

So why have this in the nurse practice act if they are not going to

do anything and why should we be responsible for reporting it?

What good is a nurse practice act , Indiana Code or Administrators Code if it isn't followed out ?

It would be very interesting to find out how many nurses have

reported such and nothing is done about it.

[caliotter3]

netrn,

please be careful about this matter. You can be labeled a "snitch" and suffer repercussions. Even though you are reporting a matter of public record.

[netrn]

Well, being called a snitch is better than being called a ***** which I have already been called.

So, are you saying that if you knew of someone that was

abusing a resident that you wouldn't be a ---snitch??, either?

I consider it protecting the residents and the facility in which

I work at, I do not owe anyone who is considered unsafe an

explaination, it is in black and white --they can read the the rules. :imbar

[caliotter3]

Read my previous post. I did what I was supposed to do (except telling the board), I was called a "snitch", and I did suffer. The person who committed the crime suffered nothing. I was told by a recruiter that I would be called a "snitch" and I would not be hired. Yep, I wasn't hired.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

There needs to be a CRIMINAL CONVICTION before the board can act. "Proven innocent until found guilty" is our law.

[netrn]

Please define "criminal conviction". She was convicted of delivering less than 5 grams of meth fined court cost and

sentenced to 6 months in jail and 2 years probation, though

6 months only meant less than 3 months. My issue isn't "drug

abuse" this person tested clean--I'm talking about "selling

illegal drugs."

[caliotter3]

NRSKarenRN,

I realized this (about the criminal conviction) so then why do the boards have the requirement to report nonprofessional behavior? I had the same feelings as netrn after my experience. Just because there is no criminal conviction does not mean there was no crime. And, as described in other threads, there can be a pattern of questionable behavior, whether or not properly addressed by employers. All we as professionals can do is make the appropriate reports. There is a point where we are not responsible for the outcome.

[caliotter3]

I read your last post after my post. From what you describe, that nurse should have her license revoked as soon as the board verifies this info. And you, as an individual, should bear no responsibility in this process. In my state, each license renewal, we are required to answer the question about convictions. You mean to tell me that the enforcement division of the board does not have access to a data base of criminal convictions? Bull hockey.