Kansas Certified Nurse Aides: Five Ways to Jeopardize Your Certification
- 6th Monday 2013
- Professional Licensing
- 0
Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) play an important role in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and in other health care delivery facilities. From administering vitals to updating patient records to helping a patient eat, a nurse aide is involved with multiple aspects of patient care. But no matter how busy a nurse aide may be, he or she should never take the certification for granted. Each year nurse aides are disciplined and/or have certifications revoked due to careless mistakes and or negligence. Here are five errors that can jeopardize a nurse aide’s certification:
1) Certification Problems: In order to obtain your CNA certification in Kansas you must complete a 90-hour nurse aide training course and pass the state test. The quickest way to jeopardize your certification is by lying on any portion of the application. Each year applicants “fib” about their criminal history and credentials thinking that no one will find out. This is one gamble that is sure to result in a loss of certification.
2) Conviction of a Crime: In most states the conviction of a felony or other crime can be grounds for automatic revocation of a nurse aide’s certification. If you are charged with a crime, make sure that you consult with professional license defense attorney in addition to a criminal attorney. In some cases, pleading guilty to a crime may lead to your certification being revoked.
3) Patient Mistreatment: The majority of a nurse aide’s duties are with direct patient care. Mistreatment or abuse of a patient will not be tolerated and in most cases will result in a loss of certification. Sometimes due to a patient or resident’s mental infirmities, he or she may become aggressive or even violent. If you are having difficulties managing a patient, obtain assistance from the nurse on duty or another supervisor.
4) Misappropriation of Property: As a nurse aide you are typically responsible for helping patients with every day duties, from getting dressed and undressed to bathing and toileting. Some patients may be so grateful for your services that they will present you with a gift. Most facilities, whether it be a hospital or a nursing home, typically prohibit staff, including nurse aides, from accepting gifts. Elderly patients with memory problems may also forget giving you a watch or other item of personal property and later report the item stolen. It goes without saying that stealing from a patient is not only a crime, but will also result in the loss of your certification.
5) HIPAA Violations: Nurse aides, like other medical employees, must know and understand – their obligations under HIPAA”). Sharing a patient’s medical information with people not authorized to know that information can result in the revocation of your certification.
If you are a certified nurse aid who is being investigated due to a complaint, contact the Sanger Law Office today at 785-979-4353 to schedule a free consultation. You can trust our team of experienced professionals to provide you with the superior legal service you need to protect your career.
