RN license expired but did not know and was working for 1 year as NP in NY

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Hello,

I am looking for advice or maybe this happened to someone else too. I just found out my RN NY license has been expired since 12/31/21. I only found this out because I tried to renew my NP license to be told this. Now my NP NY license is on hold. I filled out a delayed registration form and submitted it but the PROBLEM is I have been working since finding this out completely unaware that my RN license was expired. I never receive anything in the mail or email from NYS to renew my RN license but I did receive the NP in the mail to renew which I cannot because it is on hold.

On the delayed registration form I had to be honest and say I worked during this time.  I called someone at office of professions and they told me that once they receive my application in 7-10 days they will process and generate me a bill and send to my email where they will backdate from the time it was expired. They could not tell me how much or if I will get in big trouble.  I do have active RN and NP license in NJ though. So now I wait ....

Also, I want to mention that my current place of employment never told me about my inactive RN license for 1 year either. So, after telling them my situation their response was for me to not worry and to just keep working they won't find out .... I feel very uneasy about this because I do not want to get in big trouble and lose my licenses for a mistake that I did not intend to happen this way. I honestly was completely unaware of this until I tried to renew NP.

What should I do? I am looking for advice if someone had a similar situation and what was the outcome. Thank you so much!

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dannipoint said:

Hello,

I am looking for advice or maybe this happened to someone else too. I just found out my RN NY license has been expired since 12/31/21. I only found this out because I tried to renew my NP license to be told this. Now my NP NY license is on hold. I filled out a delayed registration form and submitted it but the PROBLEM is I have been working since finding this out completely unaware that my RN license was expired. I never receive anything in the mail or email from NYS to renew my RN license but I did receive the NP in the mail to renew which I cannot because it is on hold.

On the delayed registration form I had to be honest and say I worked during this time.  I called someone at office of professions and they told me that once they receive my application in 7-10 days they will process and generate me a bill and send to my email where they will backdate from the time it was expired. They could not tell me how much or if I will get in big trouble.  I do have active RN and NP license in NJ though. So now I wait ....

Also, I want to mention that my current place of employment never told me about my inactive RN license for 1 year either. So, after telling them my situation their response was for me to not worry and to just keep working they won't find out .... I feel very uneasy about this because I do not want to get in big trouble and lose my licenses for a mistake that I did not intend to happen this way. I honestly was completely unaware of this until I tried to renew NP.

What should I do? I am looking for advice if someone had a similar situation and what was the outcome. Thank you so much!

I'm not an RN but my advice would be to wait till they lift the hold. If you have active licenses in NJ  work there until then. It does not serve you to work like the problem does not exist.  It could land you in more trouble. I hope it works out for you with minimal expenses.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

How did your license experience without you knowing? Is yours not renewed annually? Did you make a payment that didn't go through? If you have some kind of receipt for payment maybe that would help? I know that mine is due annually in my birth month, so it's hard to forget- always fun to pay for your licenses for your birthday present. 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I had something similar occur...

I passed my RN state boards in the Summer of '90, had been an LPN, and the facility I worked for gave me the pay and responsibilities of an RN.

I resigned from that position and when I was hired for another position at another faculty, I hadn't applied for my license. So, in essence, I had worked over six months as an RN without an RN license.

I scrambled to right this wrong and was informed by the IDPR that it would take 6 to 7 weeks to get my license.

I telephoned my state senator, informed him of the situation, and within a week had my license.

I suffered no negative ramifications over my blunder, and hope you don't either, dannipoint!

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I have low-key anxiety about messing up or forgetting or thinking I have renewed both RN and APRN licenses when really I haven't or just anything related to this. My state's website is no help; it's garbage and not user-friendly.

I have several alerts and reminders of various kinds on my phone starting months in advance. I would recommend doing this rather than relying on seeing something in the mail as the only reminder.

No advice except that I would not practice without a current license no matter what your employer says.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

It can happen. Many of us have stories. Mine is of driving 6 hours to Sacramento the day before my license expired.

Not proud of that, but it never happened again.

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Specializes in Burn, ICU.
JBMmom said:

How did your license experience without you knowing? Is yours not renewed annually? 

In NY, licenses are renewed every 3 years and expire at the end of the month before your birth month. They send you ONE paper letter in the mail with a PIN code for renewal, and they send it several months before you need to renew.  It would be easy to forget/lose/not realize it never arrived. 

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Specializes in Occupational Health.

Like JKL33 I have multiple calendar reminders set up for RN/NP license renewal, prescription authority renewal, DEA renewal, FNP certification renewal, etc.

I would never trust an employer to remind me of anything that affects my ability to work...the people responsible for that (e.g. HR) don't have a clue what's involved, required, or how it affects you professionally. 

Practice only on current licenses. The employer that says "they won't know" is pathetic...they'll hang you out to dry as soon as anything gets questioned and you'll be the on to answer for it because they first thing out of their mouth will be "she/he should have known"

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Specializes in Home care/Travel.

I would say do not under any circumstances practice without a license even if your facility says it's okay. 

Anything happens and you're not licensed, like med error or any error, your facility will not back you up. 

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I also have lots of reminders for my RN license, as well as my certifications and BLS. Never rely on anyone else.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
marienm, RN, CCRN said:

In NY, licenses are renewed every 3 years and expire at the end of the month before your birth month.

I can see how that could happen. I guess my greedy state making it annual has some benefit.

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Roitrn said:

I would say do not under any circumstances practice without a license even if your facility says it's okay. 

Anything happens and you're not licensed, like med error or any error, your facility will not back you up. 

Furthermore depending on your jurisdiction, it can be a criminal offense to practice without a license.  This is why reputable facilities will not schedule you to work if your license lapses.

Ultimately like others have mentioned it is your responsibility alone to keep your license current.  My state also does alternating years, which does make it more challenging, but I keep reminders on my phone and physical calendars starting months in advance.  On the years it doesn't apply I double check to make sure it's not a renewal year then move on.

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