Student fears allegations could prevent her from obtaining a license as a registered nurse

A nursing student claimed she was accused of “computer intrusion” and petty theft on the clinic where she worked.

She said she was innocent of the costs and that the actual perpetrator was a coworker who stole her ID after which left the state. After being informed that she could face misdemeanor charges, she began to fear that a conviction would prevent her from obtaining an RN license. The situation raised the next questions:

• Did she work on the clinic as a nursing student or in her spare time?
• What identification did the accused criminal take along with her and the way does she know the criminal left the state?
• Does he know the name of the criminal?
• Did she dispute the allegations on the clinic using its disciplinary and grievance policies, and if she worked there as a student, did she follow her school’s policy and dispute the allegations?

Laws and judgments referring to nursing practice

The Nursing Practice Acts and their respective regulations govern how boards of nursing determine whether a person qualifies for RN licensure. Requirements include educational and other credentials, application for a nursing license, and successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) upon qualifying to sit down for the examination.

One of the necessities considered by the nursing board for applicants is whether or not there may be a felony or misdemeanor conviction. The application for licensure requires an honest answer to the query of whether there was a conviction. Some states also require Criminal background check for candidates.

In addition, some nursing practice statutes state that the misdemeanor or felony offense doesn’t must be related to the practice of nursing, while others specifically state that such a relationship exists. Depending on the state, applicants can have additional requirements, including whether the conviction has been expunged (faraway from the person’s criminal history through legal proceedings) or whether the criminal court records have been sealed. Some states specifically prohibit the issuance of health care licenses when the offenses involve sex offenses, violent offenses, or fraud. These requirements don’t absolutely prohibit an applicant with a conviction from obtaining an RN license. Instead, each applicant with a conviction is reviewed by the suitable state nursing board on a person basis.

How might this candidate fare?

Because so many questions remain unanswered in this example, my answer can only be based on assumptions. If the coed was working alone, I hope she regretted the allegations that her employer reported to the police, which led to the criminal charges being brought against her.

Lamenting the allegations about your work is important to supporting that the claims are false. Even if the grievance isn’t upheld, using the employer’s grievance policy to dispute the allegations probably confirms that they’re false. Not lamenting the allegations probably confirms that they’re true.

The student didn’t say that she was dismissed from the nursing program, so I can assume that she continues to be a student and that the nursing program supports her at this point (since there was no conviction so far). If this assumption is true, it’s hoped that she has taken advantage of any policies that the nursing program offers to nursing students to contest such claims. That way, they’ll not go unanswered within the event of a conviction and dismissal from the nursing program. The student didn’t say whether her attorney is recommending a trial or advising her to plead guilty. The latter option seems unlikely based on what the coed has said. However, it might prove that she doesn’t have evidence to support her claims that a coworker committed these alleged acts and left the state. If the coed doesn’t have evidence to support her claims, her attorney can have assessed the case as unwinnable and in addition financially prohibitive for her within the event of either final result.

What are you able to learn from this case?

The most vital tip to recollect is that when you are unlucky enough to be convicted, it doesn’t mean that you just robotically cannot obtain a license to practice nursing. However, it does mean that you could do the next:

• Hire a nurse lawyer or attorney to work with you in your nursing license application.
• Follow all Nurse Practice Act and federal regulations regarding your conviction, with the recommendation of your attorney. You must do that whether you’re coping with a felony or misdemeanor. (Check your state’s laws.) Nursing Practice Act and regulations).
• Disclose your conviction on each your application and in any documents you receive from the board.
• Provide the small print requested, even perhaps supporting court or other records of the conviction. Your attorney will assist you to with these details and guide you to truthfully describe what happened and include extenuating circumstances (e.g., complaints filed, details about coworkers).
• Appear before the committee along with your attorney (if requested) to evaluate your credibility and to permit the committee to conduct further discussions about your conviction.

The board will make a call. If the choice is negative, your attorney will advise you in your legal options. If the board decides to help you take the NCLEX, they’ll want to satisfy with you when you pass the exam and if no conditions were set in your license at the primary meeting. These conditions may include a probationary period in your RN license or require you to take a CE course on HIPAA and its importance to maintaining confidentiality in nursing practice. In either case, you could comply with the board’s terms.

Sign up for these courses to learn more about the way to protect patients and yourself:

In this course, you’ll learn in regards to the parts of HIPAA, especially people who pertain to nursing and other healthcare professionals and the protection of healthcare information. Because you play a key role within the production of healthcare information, you play a key role in protecting it.

This course provides an outline of bioethics because it pertains to health care and nursing within the United States. The course explains the weather of ethical decision-making as they relate to patient care and ethics committees. The course concludes with a discussion of the moral challenges related to physician-assisted suicide, organ transplantation, and genetic testing.

Nurses have a responsibility to remain current on current issues related to the regulation of nursing practice not only of their states but additionally nationwide. Nurses have a responsibility to their patients to practice in a secure, competent, and responsible manner. This requires licensed nurses to practice in accordance with state statutes and regulations. This course provides information on nursing practice laws and their impact on nursing practice.