Reputation of Nursing Boards

sjt9721, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2008

Why are Nursing Boards known for destroying other nurses? It looks like this is the only profession that is this unprofessional, maybe thats why nurses will never be fully embraced as being professional. Look at its leaders.
Last night I was at an event that was represented by many different Health Care roles. I was speaking with several physicians and became embarrased when one of them stated that its well-known that the Boards of Nursing are like a "bunch of old lady witches."
I don't think he really wanted to use "W."
How do these nurses become this way? Or are they already destructive people who end up on Nursing Boards?

BONs are not the leaders of our profession. They are there to protect the public by regulating nursing practice, making sure that nursing practice adheres to the legislative rules that are in place.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 18, 2008

It sounds to me as if it is the physician who was acting mean, spiteful, etc. -- and definitely unprofessional.

It sounds to me as if you are basing your opinion of the Boards of Nursing on the inappropriately expressed opinion of one physician who sounds like he has an axe to grind.

Your post makes HIM look bad -- not the Board of Nursing.

Why do nurses assume that the physician is always right and the nurses are always wrong? Why didn't you stand up for the Board of Nursing? Why did you let him bash them like that? You should have called him on his inappropriate and unprofessional remarks. You are guilty of the very thing you are accusing the BON of.

extravanga · Jul 18, 2008

I did not offend me. I am in complete agreement with him. I started the conversation. It went into the direction of the different Boards, and thats when he made his comment. There was no professionalism involved as it was a social setting. He wasn't attacking or slandering any one person. Just stating facts.

I was relieved that others are aware of the unprofessional nature of our Board. Most of the posters on this site will experience this at some time in their careers. Something will happen that they will need support about but, there will be no support.

There are rare times a nurse is actually criminal, neglectful, all those things but MOST the time its a Witch Hunt by the Board based on one person making a bogus complaint. If you read all the entires on their infamous website, you can see how silly most the revocations are.

The Nursing Board is very different than the Medical Board in that it presumes guilt before innocence. They perpetuate the public belief that nurses are somehow not human and can bear all the weight of everything thats negative in the health care field.

Personally I felt very validated by his response, especially coming from a person I know to be very much a patient advocate as well as fair-minded.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2008

And the BONs should be more lenient and lax? Yeah, that should help nurses to be viewed as more professional.

michigooseBSN · Jul 21, 2008

I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to the SARP (substance abuse recovery program) of the Massachusetts BON. I completed the rigorous 5 year program 11 years ago and they were nothing but supportive and helpful. I wanted and needed help and they gave it to me. I am eternally thankful.

embarrasingfield · Jul 21, 2008

That hasn't been my experience. I'm glad for you that you had a positive experience with your Board.

I probably shouldn't be posting on this particular board as my feelings about the Board are pretty negative. I do not want to discourage other new nurses from joining nursing.

I have been a nurse a long time and its part of who I am. Even though I have major issues with the treatment of nurses, for the most part I am glad I could be of service to others in this way.