Warning on an LPN License.

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Hello everyone.

This is my first post, so I apologize if it's in the wrong section. I graduated nursing school, and became an LPN in June 2011. I started my first job at a long term care facility in July and after 15 months with no problems, I made my first mistake as a nurse and forgot to administer Colace to a patient two days in a row. Ultimately, I was fired and received a warning on my license two months ago for it. I haven't been able to get a job since, and am feeling really discouraged. Because I haven't been a nurse for that long, I also have inexperience against me. I live in a small town, and was wondering if I got licensed in a different state in the future (since it will always be on my record) if my warning from Vermont will show up on the new state's license as well? Thank-you.

Interesting indeed, I wonder if it was some kind of informal warning? It may not even be "on your license" never heard of such a thing but if I were you I would definitely look into it with your BON. Also consider broadening your job search, perhaps there is a town or city a short commute away that you could consider?

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OP: your BON will be able to tell you if you have any disciplinary action on your license. You WOULD know if they had disciplined you, as you would have received a whole load of correspondence from the BON and likely have had to attend a hearing to explain your actions. In addition, you can look up your license online and see what action has been taken.

And ONLY the BON can discipline your license. No employer can. This employer can mark you as a DNR (do not rehire) and have their own disciplinary action on your file with them, but they can't sanction your license itself. They can only complain to the BON about you, and the BON will decide what course of action, if any, to take from there.

I agree. Something is missing here. Maybe you have nothing restricting your license but are too scared to check because this first employer intimidated you so badly.... Shame on them! Or maybe you did something way worse than forgetting to correctly document colace refusal. In that case, take a look at some posts around here, pull up the big nurse panties and figure out if you actually need to flee the state to ever practice nursing again. Any way you look at it, that DON/past employer has no ability to sanction your license. Get in touch with the BON and figure this out. You can't go to another state without them finding out what's on your license in your state.

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Please call your BON and ck with them. The nurses here are right. I've been a nurse for 30plus yrs and NEVER would have stayed a nurse if that was the case. Everyone will eventually make a mistake and not just one either. Sometimes even if caused Patient death I've seen where they've issued warning, but NOT sanctions.

ALSO you can appeal it to your BON. But definately call them and ask what the heck is going on cause there is just no way this would've happened IMO. (at least not in Texas)

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It certainly sounds to me that you've been made the "example" for the facility for missing a med.

I still find it hard to believe that, if you otherwise had a good work record, that you'd be terminated for missing a colace dose.

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Specializes in RN.

Hmm... I work as an LPN in ltc and in a physicians office. I have seen some pretty gnarly med errors and Yes they are written up, and I suppose if you continue to make careless med errors you would lose your employment. To receive discipline on your license for a med error does not make sense to me? Did you make many negligent med errors?

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A good example of why you should not depend on a nursing job for long term employment. Always have an emergency fund and stay out of debt.

OP- did you file for unemployment?

Oh my...from your lips to my ears. Nursing school has put me so far into debt it's not even funny.

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