Travel Nursing with Reprimands?

[Jane the Nurse]

Fellow nurses, I am glad I can post anonymous here, I need some feedback. I am a Nurse of many years, mostly hospital.  I received 2 separate reprimands on my license. One for making a med error and giving a post-op patient pain med the pt had listed as a allergy (yep, I applied her allergy band myself and I take full responsibility).  I was fired. Several years later, I was working in long term care and a patient was out of her non-narcotic pain med on a Saturday night at 8pm.  I used somebody else's no-longer used med card to make sure she wouldn't go without.  Administrator fired and reported me to the BON and I received another reprimand  as it is considered financial and elder abuse. 

Now I am looking for a job and was thinking about doing some travelling. I painfully have come to the realization that travel nursing travel agencies will not hire me. I am afraid to even apply to local facilities as all it will take is a quick nurse check with the BON and see the reprimand. I am a caring, experienced compassioned nurse who has made mistakes. I am sitting at home, not knowing what to do and scared to death about more rejections while I getting swallowed by a looming financial disaster by not working.  Do I approach a hiring manager first before even applying and explain things? How do I get out from under this?

 

[Davey Do]

My heart goes out to you, Jane the Nurse. We have all made mistakes, as have I in the same ballpark as yours.

Being reported to the BON is a pretty severe step, especially if no long-term harm came to either patient.

Having never been reported to the IDPR, I cannot give first-hand advice, but I have been terminated from a few different positions and had to deal with the question, "Why did you leave your previous job?"

Let's look at some truths and use them, for they "shall set you free". Laying our cards on the table with an explanation for interested entities isn't a bad idea. We therefore do not have to carry around any baggage or be looking over our shoulders.

However, first and foremost, when we have wronged, we need to forgive ourselves. In my program, when I have wronged, I admit to myself, another human being, and God the exact nature of my wrongs. I make amends whenever possible, except when to do so would cause harm to myself or others.

Forgiving ourselves is the pathway to peace, and peace is the pathway to happiness.

The very best to you, Jane the Nurse.

[HiddenAngels]

Apply everywhere, don't give up.

When you get that interview if those incidents come up just be honest. 

All the Best.

[Davey Do]

HiddenAngels said:

Apply everywhere, don't give up.

When you get that interview if those incidents come up just be honest. 

Here, here!

The "Sight and Shotgun Effect" in job seeking: Shoot at everything in sight and use a shotgun to be sure not to miss.

Another reason that HiddenAngels' advice is sound is because of repetition. The more we do something over and over again, the better we become at it.

In order to decrease your anxiety, Jane the Nurse, it might be a good idea to do some role playing with a trusted family member or friend- a mock interview. I could give you several stories on how role playing helped me and several others look good in tense situations.

Good luck.

[TEXASWAG, MSN, RN]

Some travel companies, such as Prolink, do not work with nurses with a "hit" on their license. Even if a travel company is willing to accept your aplication, sometimes the hospital is the one who does not want a travel nurse with a history of their license being reported for whatever reason. Here are some employment suggestions. Work at home nursing jobs. Go back to school but your license needs to be unemcumbered. Clinical instructor but your license needs to be unemcumbered. Reach out to a former employer and see if they'd be willing to hire you back. Nursing home, rehab, home health, insurance companies, outpatient dialysis clinics. Keep applying. 

Don't be scared to apply to hospitals in your area. It's going to always show up on Nursys, so just be completely honest when answering the question on the application about your license ever being reported. 

I wish you all the best. Also, time away from the incident helps.   

[Nurse Alexa, MSN, RN]

I am sorry you're having such a difficult time finding another job, Jane. I would be honest in your next job interviews about your mistakes and regrets. Explain how you have learned from them and gained experience from the incidences. 

[NedRN]

Collecting information about what actually appears on a license check may be helpful. You apparently have no restrictions to practice, right? Go to your state board nursing site and put in your license number or name and see what the verification says. 
 

While in no way would I ever suggest lying, a reprimand is very different than a restriction on your license. We've all read about misbehaving and dangerous nurses that manage to switch state licenses without really bad info following them around. It might be harder since perhaps all states (even Nursys non reporting states like California) do verify licenses with Nursys, but it is highly possible that switching state licenses a few times in non compact states will end up with a clean verified license. 
 

You may well still have awkward questions on agency applications to answer, but again, a reprimand is very different than a restriction on practice. 
 

I'd also be interested what your BON says about expunging reprimands after some period of time or active attempts on your part to demonstrate rehabilitation.
 

Would be very worthwhile to talk to someone approved to talk on your behalf. It doesn't necessarily have to be a lawyer, and often there are nurse advocates who are approved by the board to represent you. 

[Nurse Alexa, MSN, RN]

Expunding reprimands after sometime might be the best way to go ^. Maybe after a certain amount of time they can wipe it off your license?

[NedRN]

Ah, that was the word I was struggling to find "expungement". Yes, good goal! 

[Rate your pain]

Don't give up! I don't have any advice except to keep applying. And be honest. Hopefully someone will offer you another chance. 

[Kynurse77]

Kentucky nurse of 12 years with reprimand. Completed all CEU's & paid civil penalty. Waiting on board to clear. Although I am able to work without restrictions & my license is active, I am having a problem getting a job. The KBN said I'll have this prior reprimand on my license for 10 years. Even after it is cleared. At present, I have been terminated from a job and denied employment due to the reprimand. Does anyone know if dialysis and plasma centers hire nurses in my situation? Are there nursing agencies who will hire me with a reprimand? 

[TEXASWAG, MSN, RN]

Kynurse77 said:

Kentucky nurse of 12 years with reprimand. Completed all CEU's & paid civil penalty. Waiting on board to clear. Although I am able to work without restrictions & my license is active, I am having a problem getting a job. The KBN said I'll have this prior reprimand on my license for 10 years. Even after it is cleared. At present, I have been terminated from a job and denied employment due to the reprimand. Does anyone know if dialysis and plasma centers hire nurses in my situation? Are there nursing agencies who will hire me with a reprimand? 

Hey, give Davita a try. An agency like working per diem may not hire you. It's best for you to work full time.  Also, if you live in a city with a county hospital give it a try as well. Wish you all the best.