Nursing licensure requirements differ depending on the state you intend to work in. Every state sets its rules and regulations and applies the Nursing Practice Act to control nursing practices. Violating the guidelines therein could result in your nursing licence suspension. Suspended nursing licence reinstatement rules also vary based on state.
While you may be reinstated, it depends on if the suspension is a permanent revocation. Learning why you might lose your licence helps prevent or reduce the risks of getting your licence suspended. Here are six reasons why you could lose your nursing licence.
1. Negligence
Nursing negligence occurs when a nurse's care doesn't meet reasonable standards, causing physical or mental suffering to the patient or even death. It may include not administering the medication on time or in the correct dosage, making mistakes, and causing injuries by not adhering to proper procedures. As a nurse, you should meet your legal duty of care and professional duty of care.
The nursing negligence you may be accused of includes not recording crucial information on patients' charts, failure to evaluate a patient's condition on time, medication administration errors, and misusing, damaging, or losing documentation. If you're accused of negligence, consult a Nursing License Defense Attorney or any other to look at your case particulars to advise you accordingly.
2. Patient confidentiality breach
Confidentiality is a primary concern in healthcare. You are expected to learn, understand and adhere to patient privacy legislation within your practice jurisdiction. Keeping yourself up-to-date with the laws and regulations expansion or changes is your responsibility. Sharing your patient’s medical history and records with colleagues, family members, or friends can cost you your nursing licence. Guarding your patient's confidential information helps safeguard your licence while adhering to privacy laws.
3. Professional misconduct
Failure of a licensed nursing professional to meet the expected practice standards amounts to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct is broad and may include failure to obtain patient consent or keep records, misappropriating client or workplace property, and physical, emotional, or verbal abuse. This may result in losing your licence, risk suspension, being fined, or having the misconduct recorded.
4. Drug diversion
Drug diversion happens when drugs are redirected from their intended purpose for sale, personal use, or distribution to others. It’s a felony that can lead to your loss of licence or criminal prosecution. Diverting controlled drugs carries financial and legal implications that threaten medical facilities, patients, the public, and healthcare professionals. Patients may suffer unrelieved pain and inadequate care. Medical facilities can bear fine burdens for failed safeguards and eligibility loss for Medicare reimbursement.
5. Impersonating other licensed practitioners
Impersonations amount to identity theft, and employers may sometimes not catch them easily. If you’re caught impersonating another licensed nurse, the licence you have can be revoked immediately by your state’s board, staining your record.
6. Sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct may range from violations between patients and nurses or nurses and other medical staff. While these violations vary based on state and hospital policies. Nurse-patient relations are a significant violation requiring disciplinary sanctions such as licence revocation.
Endnote
Understanding why you might lose your nursing permit helps you avoid issues that could land you in trouble. Familiarise yourself with these reasons to prevent losing your nursing licence.
