Taylor Johnson was a nurse at the Box Elder Hospital in South Dakota. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. Perfection in clinical settings is impossible and even experienced nurses can make mistakes. She was told her preceptor resigned. While most nurses enter the nursing profession with the best intentions, every month Boards of Nursing (BON) in each state revoke or suspend dozens of licenses. A nurse who has criminal convictions or who is practicing outside her legal scope can also lose her license. If youre unsure where to turn, you can always contact a professional licensing defense attorney. They are not required for the site to work. Mrs. Marie Brown has been a registered nurse for over 25 years. I experienced disgusting attitude and negligence at that hospital and it was my family member giving birth.I saw it first hand Fraud. That disciplinary action can range from a warning to a suspension or revocation of their license. Its paramount for nurses to understand how important it is for their safety andthe safety of the patients they are caring for in their working environment. Nursing is a stressful career, we do not need to add to our stress unnecessarily. By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late, and the patient died. Having early legal representation can influence the outcome of your case. Leah Curtin, RN, ScD(h), FAAN Executive Editor, Professional Outreach American Nurse Today. Would love your thoughts, please comment. If a nurse has been convicted of any misconduct in the past three years, it will result in the loss of their license. She has been charged with felony theft and is currently awaiting trial. As a result of this incident, the state board revoked Zappias license. 7 Ways You Can Lose Your Nursing License - nursa.com As you can see, there are many reasons why a nurses license may be revoked. License & DEA Requirements for Nurse Practitioners. Ways in Which Nurses Can Lose Their Licenses - The Law Offices of David The Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) generally forbids any payment or remuneration in return for referrals. Your email address will not be published. Criminal activity: Depending on the state, this could mean ANY conviction means you wont be licensed. Men Nurs. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 HealthCom Media All rights reserved. Now you can turn your attention to safeguarding your status and livelihood. 2009;109(3):7. On top of that, you want an attorney with a good record of winning cases against the BRN. Information and best practices are forever changing. Why dont nurses understand the severity of placing their license in jeopardy? *Disclosure: This article on why nurses lose their license may contain affiliate links. Even with intense study, not every graduate nurse will pass their NCLEX . She knew she was unsafe for her patient and herself. State Board of Nursing: Become familiar with your states Board of Nursing (BON) website. Minkoff is just one example of someone who was eventually caught and punished for their actions. Read our Privacy Policy. Nutrition Labels and Nurses Losing Their Licenses The updated nutrition labels appear on the majority of food packages. Some of the resources an experienced nursing healthcare lawyer will review are: For example, the Cosmetic Treatments Q and A provides that doctors can use intense pulse light (IPL) devices and laser treatments. A Look At Substance Abuse Amoung Nurses & Why It Is Troubling Still, if you provide incorrect information, youre in big trouble. Remember that your license is a revocable privilege, so protect it from the very first day you earn it. The nurse did not comply with the requirements of the program, and she was convicted. Brent has conducted many seminars on legal issues and has published extensively in the area of law and nursing practice. Next, keep up to date on your education and complete any required continuing education credits. Each state is different. If a nurse has lost their license and wants it back, they may wish to appeal the boards decision. The views and opinions expressed by Perspectives contributors are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the American Nurses Association, the Editorial Advisory Board members, or the Publisher, Editors and staff of American Nurse Journal. They can help you navigate the legal process and ensure that youre taking all necessary steps to reinstate your License. Starting in summer 2023, Nurse.com Recruiting will offer an AI-driven candidate matching solution to help your organization recruit nurses with the right skills for your roles. If they're feeling pain, they may take a pill or two to alleviate the pain. The protected information includes information such as name, address, and social security that identify the patient. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) imposed numerous requirements on federal agencies and everyone who works in the healthcare system to take steps to protect and secure patient records so that only approved people could see a patients medical and personal information. We can deliver better outcomes for our patients and for each other. With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. The proceeding can occur without you. The relationship between a chiropractor and a doctor is one such combination. Its not enough to understand the medical requirements. The nurses lawyer also provided oral argument. The patient died, and Mark was devastated. Medical Spas (. Impairment increases the odds of deadly errors. But the thing is, nurses are under investigation more often than you realize. Mail fraud is yet another way you can lose your license. 4. Will you advise me on pursuing this? All but 7 states in the U.S. have programs to address substance abuse and impaired practice in nursing stressing alternatives to traditional disciplinary actions and criminal prosecution. Think about it. Instead, leverage the skills and qualities that you have as a nurse as evidence that you would be an asset in any profession. Nurses must keep in mind they are on duty 24 hours a day. Sexual misconduct: any non-consensual behavior of a sexual nature that is committed by force or intimidation, or that is otherwise unwelcome. One must learn the rules and then what to do when mistakes are made. Just this past week have heard this twice and just want to get yall's thoughts on it. When she addressed this concern with the charge nurse, she was told, It is your patient, and you need to give the medication. She went to her manager and was told the same thing. There was no available preceptor to mentor her for the next week, but she was expected to work as usual. Amy Hoy on Twitter: "@katienotopoulos nurses can't strike without According to author Nancy Brent, there is no shortage of penalties for falsification. Nurses lose their licenses for several reasons. Losing your nursing license can seem like the end of the world. The states requirements may also include the need to comply with the courts rulings within a set timeframe or risk permanently losing the license. Depending on the state, the license may remain suspended until the nurse pays back child support. Maybe you gave your patient a little extra morphine to help him get through the night, but you didn't record it. They investigated and discovered that Zappia had been taking the opioids for herself. Terms of Use, Disclaimer, and Privacy Policy. At first, Kruse denied the accusations, but she later confessed to stealing painkillers from her patients. Nursing isnt just your job; its who you are. Nurse who killed patient with wrong medicine loses nursing license If a nurse breaks a rule or regulation, it can result in loss of license. Losing the ability to be a nurse can be crushing, emotionally and monetarily. 750+ ANCC-accredited courses. Archived post. She was an excellent nurse and had a passion for helping others. Check also: How to Pick Best Shoes for Nurses. Nurses can spend a lot of money for schooling and many hours of learning, only to lose their nursing license in . When we collaborate, were all more productive. Is anyone else terrified to lose their license every single day? However, one day she made a mistake that cost her suspension. She was caring for a very ill patient and needed constant monitoring. A nurse who loses her license may need to explore options outside of the medical field. Nursing is a unique field in that several levels of education can lead to the same Registered Nurse license. For more info, please seemy disclaimer. It helps with instant verification for employers and when applying in other states. If you have been accused of one of these reasons, you must retain an attorney as soon as possible to help protect your rights. The South Dakota Board of Nursing suspended Kruses license after an investigation revealed that she took painkillers from her patients for several years. RN Compliance You've worked hard to obtain your nursing license. Suspension of the license can be devastating, both professionally and personally. This website uses additional cookies that mainly assist with our marketing efforts. The course concludes with a look at the ethical challenges involved in physician-assisted suicide, organ transplantation, and genetic testing. As an example, a registered nurse who works with a plastic surgeon should be careful about the following: The basic key that the attorney will explain to the nurse is that it is the physician who contracts with the nurse. Among nurses, an estimated 10 to 15 percent are impaired by or recovering from substance abuse, including alcohol addiction. Cosmetics Companies Boundaries violations. Once a nurse loses the license due to negligence, her options to work in health care are limited. Stay educated in your specialty and on current nursing topics. For disciplinary documents prior to November 2006, contact North Carolina's board at (919) 782-3211 ext. Does Corporate Practice of Medicine Prohibit Employing Physicians? An RN (but not a licensed vocational nurse) can use IPL devices and perform laser treatments under a doctors supervision. References. Additionally, violation of state or federal rules and regulations, negligence causing injury or death, gross misconduct, or intentional acts of harm can all be grounds for disciplinary action. Nurses can have websites but there are restrictions. Got HIPAA? The board again proposed to deny her application due to the licenses being permanently revoked under the nurse practice act, and she was therefore not eligible for a state nursing license by endorsement, examination, or reinstatement.She requested a hearing and submitted documentary evidence and testimony. Generally, with proper planning, the healthcare lawyer can explain the best way to use the MSO to fulfill her business/new practice dreams. They seem to live in fear of this. Nurses license can be suspended due to any of the reasons stated above and should consider seeking legal help. How many of those who testified were found guilty? Nurses can verify their licenses by completing the Nursys verification process for $30 per license type, per each board of nursing where the . This can help reduce the risk of complaints the RN is engaged in an unlicensed practice, fee splitting, or engaging in the corporate practice of medicine, The patients are under the authority and care of the medical doctor; not the nurse. But prior to revoking a license, a nurse can stand before the Board and argue their case. It all started when Allison was caught stealing medication from the hospital where she worked. A nurse cant hire a doctor. A nurse working for a medical spa is another combination. Once the investigation is completed and any criminal charges are resolved, the board will determine what disciplinary actions should be taken against their license. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences! This means the RN cant accept a fee from the plastic surgeon for referring patients to the plastic surgeon. But it is extremely serious when a nurse does it. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The three nurses that I personally know that lost their licenses were for the following: diversion with intent to distribute, causing injury to patient while impaired, and causing severe, permanent injury to a patient from heparin gtt overdose. The governors pardon did not change the permanent revocation since the nurse had been convicted of a crime substantially related to nursing, was unfit to practice, displayed unprofessional conduct, and practiced nursing while her licenses was suspended. Please Note: The statements and information provided on this website are for informational purposes only. nurses can't strike without strike nurses. They picture working with a physician who will guide the practice and other health providers such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and other providers. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The MBC does state that using prescription drugs and devices is not cosmetic it is the practice of medicine and physicians need to understand that concept. For the last 10 years of her nursing career, Mrs. Brown worked as a flight nurse with an air ambulance service. She also expressed concerns that some nurses are convicted and lose their licenses, and others do not for the same incidents. The course explains the elements of ethical decision-making as they apply both to the care of patients and to ethics committees. If the RN advertises on a website or in print, that he/she does the treatments the plastic surgeon does but doesnt mention the plastic surgeon then the RN could face an unlicensed practice of medicine complaint. (Again), the key point here to remember that those are two different boxes the clinical side and the business side. For example, while performing an infant assessment with a nursing student, she took a picture of the newborn and posted it to friends. Once theyre in place, all you have to do is maintain them. She states, When anyone falsifies information about themselves, it is a serious matter, as it is obviously misleading, deceptive and reflects on your trustworthiness. What Jobs Are Nurses Who Have Lost Their Licenses Eligible For? Nurses are held to high standards and are expected to adhere to a strict code of conduct. Nursing Disciplinary Action Explained | NurseJournal.org Most information about a patient that nurses read, write, or enter into a database must be protected. They help us when we're sick, ensuring that we're getting better. Breach of Patient Confidentiality Final Thoughts Mark scrambled to get the patient the help he needed, but it was too late. Thomas Uzuegbunem is a registered nurse who graduated with a bachelors in business and went on to get his bachelors of science in nursing. The FAQs also provides that RNs, licensed vocational nurses, and physician assistants can inject Botox again, under the supervision of a doctor. Some BONs have the authority to mandate an alcohol/substance abuse evaluation with a BON-approved professional, at your expense. If a nurse has an argument with a patient and then decides to abuse or neglect them, disciplinary action will be taken. 10 Common Reasons Nurses Lose Their License - RNGuardian 10 Common Reasons Nurses Lose Their License October 20, 2022 By Jennifer Coalson You might think it's rare for a nurse to need representation on standby should they be accused of something that could cause them to lose their license. Professional Liability Insurance: If you havent already purchased it, apply today. A pet peeve of mine are nurses that go on and on about being careful not to lose their license. 7 Reasons Why Nurses Lose Their License - Cohen Healthcare Law It will guide you if youre faced with a task or a conflict that could jeopardize patient safety. AJN, American Journal of Nursing Reports. The student was dismissed from the nursing school program. There she worked in the Emergency Department and on the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. A fake nursing diploma scandal in Florida is connected to scores of nurses in New York who may soon lose their licenses, worsening staffing shortages plaguing the state's health care system . First and foremost, always obey the code of ethics and standards of practice set forth by the nursing profession. Sexual misconduct may include boundary violations between nurses and patients or nurses and other healthcare workers. If you are ever questioned about your care of a patient, be able to explain your actions and reasoning clearly. More importantly, you need to know what to do to protect your professional reputation. Who should initially examine the patient? Pamela Lawson is life support resuscitation training coordinator and clinical nurse educator at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Kruse was caught on camera stealing pills from an elderly patients room. Not doing so may result in your inability to continue to practice your profession. An unlicensed nurse who is familiar with medical terminology could work as a medical secretary, for example. Sexual Misconduct Is a Common Reason to Lose a Nursing License 4. Patient had BP 260/180. Supervision is defined as the act of supervising, which is to oversee, to direct, to have charge, to inspect, to provide guidance and evaluation.. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. All contact is professional and therapeutic, never personal. It is imperative to know the cause because a journey from a nursing student to a registered nurse can get wasted by a single mistake. if there were no strike nurses, hospitals wouldn't "just give in," nurses would be totally unable to strike; aside from morals, they'd lose their licenses they'd be held captive, legally Following these steps will ensure you honor your commitment to the nursing profession, and help keep nursing at the top spot of the Most Trusted poll. She is now barred from practicing within Californias healthcare system. Based on her failure to comply with the boards suspension of her licenses, the board permanently revoked her license pursuant to its authority and the nurse practice act. Minkoff had a pattern of making unauthorized changes to patient records, including altering medication dosages and pre-authorizing services that were not necessary. Everyday Ethics for Nurses(7.3 contact hrs)This course provides an overview of bioethics as it applies to healthcare and nursing in the U.S. All it takes is one mistake, just one. Stories of Nurses Losing Their License - NursingTroop It wont matter if youve never made a mistake before. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights. Failure to delegate a task appropriately or supervise the person to whom the task was delegated is another possible cause for disciplinary action. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); *By submitting your e-mail, you are opting in to receiving information from Healthcom Media and Affiliates. Nurses are expected to handle their responsibilities with skill and accuracy. According to research on the impact of impairment in the workplace, about 10% to 15% of all nurses are actively impaired or dealing with recovery from alcohol or drug abuse (source).