Attaining and Protecting Your Professional Nursing

I plan to become licensed in the state of Massachusetts. Currently, Massachusetts is pending to become a nurse licensure compact state but is not currently. The application has been moved to online where a paper license is no longer issued. The application process can be done via paper but requires further steps to obtain and send the application. Massachusetts requires that you graduate from a board approved nursing program, have good character, and have passed the NCLEX. Background checks are also conducted that an individual meets the requirement to become a nurse based on any criminal activity. An individual must not have criminal convictions for a minimum of 5 years and have completed all court ordered stipulations a minimum of 1 year. Fingerprints are not a requirement under the Massachusetts Board of Nursing.

Substance abuse causing nurses to be impaired can be a dangerous thing for the nurse, other nurses, and the patients. Being impaired can correlate with making mistakes that can be life threatening to patients as well as the nurse. It is under legal obligations that a nurse must report other nurses who are impaired by substance abuse. When a nurse is suspected of substance abuse, it is important to conduct a thorough investigation and evaluation. This will look at safety, stability, and provide the person safe transportation to a safe environment. The nurse can be at risk of self-harm as they may experience shame and guilt when they realize what they have been doing. There are various resources available within and external to the organization. If unionized, they can provide support and there should be written policies based on the employer for incidents like these. External resources can look at the Massachusetts Nurses Association Peer Assistance Program, weekly nursing support groups, Massachusetts Substance Abuse Rehabilitative Program, self help groups, and SMART Recovery. If a nurse is found to be impaired, then termination of work may be the disciplinary action. Followed by this, a return-to-work agreement may be required to resume duties per protocol of employer.

In a world that is full of mistakes, it is important to always cover your back and your license when you are a nurse. Malpractice, protecting patient rights, refusing treatment, and abuse are things that  can be seen to cause a nurse to lose their license. As a nurse, you should take the proper measure to ensure that you don’t loose your license. Communication is a key part of protecting yourself and your license. Following protocols, minimize relying on coworkers, ensure social media is private, and always staying focused are keyways to protect yourself. At any moment a slip up can occur and taking the proper measures that are outlined by the employer is key.