Sue BON for lost wages?

Published

Specializes in Medsurg, cardiac.

Background:

A: To my understanding, if a RN is terminated in Oklahoma, it has to be reported to the board of nursing. I was wronfully terminated for taking a longer than expected break, accused of abandonment and leaving the hospital, without informing anyone. I was actually in a private conference room at the hospital, filing a police report with an officer on my lunch break, after my house was broken into during a shift. I had permission and gave report on patients beforehand. I was terminated the next day, unable to get a copy of the report at the time. (I have it now, stating I was at hospital) I feel I was wrongfully terminated but Oklahoma is an employer "at will" state, can fire for no reason. This is the first job I ever lost, and I believe it was wrongful termination.

B. The BON mailed a certified letter regarding a hearing over the complaint/termination to the wrong address and suspended my license after no response from me on grounds for emergency... At first, I was accused of breaking the NPA for not updating address but turns out it was correct the entire time. After 6 months of believing I was at wrong, I now finally have a copy of the original complaint with a new hearing. In the original complaint, my mailing address/ contact info is correct and painfully obviously visible. They are the ones who mailed it to a different unknown address, by fault of the boards secretary.

Do I have any case here?
I was forced to resign from my 2nd job and unable to work for the last 6 months due to a suspension that not only wasn't my fault, I didnt even get a chance to respond to. I understand there might not be anything i can do about being termimated, but I would still be working if the BON had used the correct address. I have a hearing in February where my lawyer believes the complaint on abandonment and address violation will be dropped. All my Bill's are past due, on the verge of losing home and car, unable to work as a cna or tech, the guilt and stess of not knowing why my license was suspended in the first place.. and I have a 2 year old. Please help. Am I able to sue for lost wages?

Note* I spent the last of my savings on a lawyer who is to busy to care, i feel like I'm on my own. No patient harm.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) https://taana.org/

are often recommended to represent your interest before boards of nursing ..

Your livelyhood is at stake, need legal counsel to have issues cleared up and license reinstated. Best wishes moving forward.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello @Mmanning01,

Please check the link NRSKarenRN provided above. Per the Terms of Service of the site, we cannot provide the legal advice you seek.

We hope this resolves favorably and wish you well.

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