There are more reasons than one that nurses can get their licenses suspended. It is very important that nursing professionals exercise the highest level of professionalism and honesty inside and outside of their professional settings. In the event nurses have their licenses suspended, there are certain measures that they can take to have their licenses reinstated.
Reasons a Nursing License is Suspended
- Impersonating Others – It is not uncommon that someone with a criminal record may use the identity of someone else to obtain a nursing license. When they are caught, their licenses are immediately revoked.
- Drug Abuse – Many nurses become addicted to prescription and non-prescription medication. Nurses are usually required to enter a recovery program, or they will not retain their licenses.
- Unprofessional Behavior – Nurses must make sure they follow the stick code of conduct on their jobs. Unprofessional behavior can be anything from having an affair with another employee to using inappropriate language on the job. A reprimand usually comes first, but a nurse’s license may be suspended for future behaviors.
- Administering or Using Unsubscribed Drugs – Maybe a sister is out of a prescribed medication and a nurse decides to slip her medication. This behavior is frowned upon in the medical profession.
- Providing a Fake License – Those with suspended licenses may try to fool employers with this trick. If caught, their license will be suspended again.
- Creating False Patient Records – Some nurses may forget to record a medication that they give a patient. Falsifying documents can affect patients and may be grounds to have a license suspended.
- Probation Violations – Nurses that are currently on probation with their State Board of Nursing may lose their licenses if they violate the terms of the agreement.
- Patient Neglect or Abuse – These mistakes can take place when nurses are tired, or they may also be intentional. These offenses can affect the patient as well as the nurses.
How to Prevent a Nursing License from Getting Suspended
- Do not participate in illegal activities. The use of drugs on the job or outside of the job can have drastic repercussions. It is not okay to write prescriptions or administer medications to anyone illegally.
- Get lots of rest between shifts. Many nurses make big mistakes because they lack sleep. Some nurses may work 12 hours or more at once so it is very important that they get their rest.
- Follow the rules at work. Employers take their codes of conduct very seriously. They may have harsh punishments for nurses because they already know what is expected of them, but they still break the rules.
- Do not use the identity of others. Those who think that they will get away with assuming someone else’s identity should think again. They will get caught, and when they do, there are serious consequences for their actions.
- Maintain professional behaviors outside of work. Many people think that they can do whatever they want when they are outside of work, and these actions will not affect their job. Participating in drugs, pornography, mail fraud, and other schemes may affect their professional life. They can serve time in jail and get a criminal record that will remain. When in doubt, do not participate in behaviors that can affect the professional career.
- Make sure patient records are correct. It may seem easier to falsify documents, or it may seem appropriate not to record patient information. These actions can affect patients in very negative ways. In some cases, it may cause serious harm to patients. Nurses should always document patient information in records.
Steps to Take to Get a Nursing License Reinstated
- Wait until the designated time has lapsed. The State Board of Nursing will not allow a nurse to apply for the reinstatement of their license before the suspension time is complete.
- Complete the necessary documents for reinstatement. Each State Board of Nursing has their own set of rules and documents that must be completed. They usually ask for official documents from courts or programs that verify completion so it is very important that nurses take care of this.
- Submit all documents in a timely fashion. There may be deadlines that they must adhere to in order to be considered for reinstatement.
- Be prepared to go before the State Board of Nursing. In some states, it may be necessary to plead with them in order to be considered for license reinstatement.
- Wait until they make contact. It may take the State Board of Nursing several months to make their decisions so do not be in a hurry.
Nursing professionals have a huge responsibility when it comes to caring for patients and protecting their licenses. The State Boards of Nursing takes offenses of their nurses very seriously so it is very important that nursing professionals put their careers first when making decisions.