Very scared, reported to board of nursing, trying to land new employment

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everybody. I've been a nurse for over 3 years and I've been in the medical field for over 10 years working in med-surg, radiology, surgery and ED. Never once have I been in trouble, received great performance reviews and have been nominated for nursing awards and general recognitions over the years.

Over the past few weeks, I learned that a patient has made a false complaint about me in regards to her perception of my care. Secondary to this, my employer has placed me in corrective action and mentioned this situation will be reported to the board of nursing. I have contacted my lawyer and she feels comfortable in walking me through the board of nursing complaint and investigation.

However, my concern is in regards to my immediate future. My supervisors and peers have all been made aware that I am moving in the next few months (prior to this situation) and I have been hoping to relocate to other hospitals closer to where I live. My supervisor, senior manager and director have all previously mentioned that will give me great reviews and references ... and they still said they will if contacted. My corrective action and decision for this to be brought to the boards attention came from administration as the complaint went through them completely unaware to myself.

Although my license still shows unemcumbered and my record is otherwise clean, I'm very worried about how I will illustrate this in my future interviews until this investigation gets cleaned up. My lawyer mentioned that this investigation is completely confidential and nobody will be made aware of the false accusation including potential employers, but that the board may contact my future employers while this investigation goes along to ensure no other accusation has been made. I'm also so scared that this will prevent me from landing other jobs once I mention I'm under investigation! What do I do, do I bring this up in potential interviews and bring documentation that shows I've done nothing in which I'm accused of, do I ask them to reach out to my lawyer, do I not mention anything at all until a decision has been made?

I've never been on the wrong side of the law or ever been in trouble at work before. All this is brand new and I don't know what to do when trying to land a new job! Thank you.

Side note: I'm actively fighting the correct action with my HR department to show that if I do land another job at another hospital, I'm not leaving on "bad terms" due to this accusation, it has been well documented that a life move will be occuring years in the making. So I feel confident this may be released but its the board of nursing investigation while searching for other jobs that scare me. Any advice? Thank you everyone.

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I don't have any experience with this, but I'd seriously question anyone who still promises to give stellar recommendations while the facility has decided the accusations have merit, has placed you on corrective action and has reported you to the BON.

This sounds like a mess and I would get a lawyer who is serious about vigorously defending you and your interests. What is the reason for the corrective action plan? The report to the BON? [Don't answer]. If you are saying these are all false accusations, then your lawyer needs to deal with your employer and the BON. Whether or not you already planned to move is the least of your worries. I can't wrap my mind around something warranting a BON report that doesn't also result in termination, so it's hard to guess the exact brand of craziness your employer is engaging in.

Good luck ~

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

I'm sorry you are going through this. Wondering what the complaint was and if anything you did was perceived differently by the patient. Contact your lawyer and I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

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Hi there. I am also from IL. I will say that all the hospitals in our area pretty much only will say dates of employment and title held. They WILL, however, say if you are rehireable or not but ONLY if you apply at an affiliated hospital. If it is not an affiliated hospital, they won't say anything. I know this for sure because I am in a support group for nurses who have had issues with controlled substances/alcohol/etc and have known many who were fired, reported to the BON, and were able to move on and get new jobs after being enrolled in our state's monitoring program (after going through the hearing with the BON).

You have no marks on your license so if it were me, I would not say anything to any new potential employer. I guess it is possible the BON could call your future employer but I think this is highly unlikely. It hasn't happened to anyone from my group and I do not think it will happen to you. They might do it in very rare cases of your lawyer says so but to me it is worth the risk. You can always explain it to your new employer later if you have to but by then they will already know you and be familiar with you.

Our state is backed up, like most. You will have to wait many months or even a year or even longer before you will have a hearing.

By the way... do you have a lawyer who specializes in professional licenses?

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Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.
I don't have any experience with this, but I'd seriously question anyone who still promises to give stellar recommendations while the facility has decided the accusations have merit, has placed you on corrective action and has reported you to the BON.

This sounds like a mess and I would get a lawyer who is serious about vigorously defending you and your interests. What is the reason for the corrective action plan? The report to the BON? [Don't answer]. If you are saying these are all false accusations, then your lawyer needs to deal with your employer and the BON. Whether or not you already planned to move is the least of your worries. I can't wrap my mind around something warranting a BON report that doesn't also result in termination, so it's hard to guess the exact brand of craziness your employer is engaging in.

Good luck ~

I second this, the reporting to the BON in one breath and steller references in the next makes no sense to me at all. Make sure you are talking to a lawyer that deals with the BON, and your best bet on finding work in the mean time I would probably defer to the lawyer as well. Best of luck with this

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Specializes in Educator.

Without knowing all the details your situation makes little sense. However, you have made the first important move by retaining legal representation, I hope they are familiar with dealing with the BON and their particular brand of crazy. As another poster mentioned, it could take several months - a year or more (read my story) before the board summons you (if it goes that route). In the meanwhile I would keep quiet and don't disclose unless absolutely necessary. Your license is clear for now so take this opportunity to secure new employment - save up your $$$. Most employers will only verify employment and salary - that's all. Best of luck to you as you navigate this nightmare.

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

I would get letters of recommendation now from those you want recommendations from I would get at least 4. Then I would have my attorney write up a letter about this situation and how I am reliable. You keep a copy of it all. I would ask HR to place that in my employee file. You have a right to see your employee file DO NOT LET ANYONE tell you different.

When employers get calls form other agencies for recommendations the recommendations usually come from the supervisors themselves. Usually facilities give out dates of service. i.e. hire/discharge dates, most companies do not go into detail for fear of legal ramifications.

The letter of recommendations are different you are asking them to speak about you so when you give the new company those names and numbers it implies consent.

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Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.
I would get letters of recommendation now from those you want recommendations from I would get at least 4. Then I would have my attorney write up a letter about this situation and how I am reliable. You keep a copy of it all. I would ask HR to place that in my employee file. You have a right to see your employee file DO NOT LET ANYONE tell you different

Not true it is state dependent, there is not a federal law that mandates access to your employee file. Check your state law and see before traveling this path without a lawyer doing this.

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