Did You get the Memo?

In an article called Nurse Police, published in Advance for Nurses, Nurse Attorney Taralynn Mackay stated:

The Boards of Nursing are getting busier every year and their regulatory powers are likewise increasing. It is crucial that nurses understand the seriousness of a board investigation. See http://nursing.advanceweb.com/editorial/search/aviewer.aspx?an=nw_07sep1_nngp31.html&AD=09-01-2007

My question, is why don't we as nurses understand the seriousness of regulatory and law enforcement investigations involving our nursing practice? Is something missing in our basic nursing education and training? Is this topic not being covered at nursing seminars, teleconferences, and conventions? Did we as nurses not receive the memo stating that your license is your livelihood and its your duty, job, and responsibility to protect your own license?

Did you get the memo? I admit, I didn't get the memo when I started and completed my nursing education. I didn't get the memo before I started working for a large teaching hospital where 80 of us nurses were told during orientation by the hospital risk managers that "you don't need your own professional liability insurance."  

Have you received the memo? When did you get the memo? If you haven't received the memo yet, review the posts on this blog and you will have an idea of what's in the memo. You have been officially "served."

Comments

[RehabRN]

As a recent graduate of a BSN program, this is not being covered to the extent you'd think. We had one lecture on legal ramifications in nursing practice. We also had people from the State BON on our faculty.

Does this make a difference? Yes, because some of these people actually tell you NOT to get malpractice.

Glad I read a lot and know more than what I saw in class. (things I found in places like this blog and other nurse attorney blogs) You'd be surprised how many people don't bother to read about anything not directly in their area.

[LaTonia Denise Wright]

I agree with you. This type of information is not being provided in sufficient detail in nursing school. Also the content should be taught by practicing attorneys who are also nurses and have practical experience in defending medical malpractice, nursing negligence, and licensure matters involving nurses. The content should not be presented from a hospital management or regulatory board perspective.