If a patient or one of their family members blames you for an adverse medical outcome or other issues with their quality of care, they could alert the Board of Registered Nursing to their concern. Anyone can make a complaint, and some of those complaints could lead to...
Things to avoid if you need to defend your nursing license
If a letter from the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) arrives in the post, it may bring bad news. If there is an accusation inside, you could face losing your nursing license. You need to stay calm and avoid errors that could harm your defense. These are...
A nurse’s actions could be due to the pressure they are under
Nursing is one of the professions where you must be at your best while working. If you are a shop worker, office worker or teacher, having a bad day is unlikely to put someone’s life at risk in the same way as it could for you as a nurse. Yet the way the health care...
Terms to understand if you need to defend your nursing license
As a registered California nurse, you probably know colleagues or former colleagues who have had to defend their licenses in front of the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). Some may have been successful; some may have failed. When discussing these cases,...
Tips to avoid risking your nursing license
It has been a tough year for nurses. You have probably been working extra shifts and giving up time off to cover colleagues who have fallen ill. Being called to a hearing by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) would make your year far worse. These are...
Common reasons nurses may need to defend their license
In most lines of work, if you do something wrong, or are not good enough at your job, you might get fired. However, there is usually nothing to stop you from heading out and finding another job doing the same thing. Things are different for nurses. You depend upon...
Do nurses need to report expungements?
For many people, expungement or dismissal, as it is known in California, offers a way to clear their criminal record. It is not possible for everyone; it depends on various factors, including the reason for the conviction, what age you were and how long has passed....
What is a Letter of Public Reprimand?
Understanding the actions that the California Board of Registered Nursing can take against you for disciplinary infractions is a must. One potential disciplinary action is a “Letter of Public Reprimand.” The California Board of Registered Nursing typically issues...
HIPAA violations can put your nursing license at risk
As a nurse, you have access to intimate details about a patient and their medical history, known as Protected Health Information (PHI). A failure to protect this information is a serious offense under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996...
Your nursing license after a DUI
Getting behind the wheel after having a few drinks often can feel rationalized in the moment but may come back to bite you afterward. Not only can you face criminal charges from drunk driving, but if you are a registered nurse, it can affect your job. The consequences...
