Top 10 Ways to Lose Your Nursing License (Please Don’t Try This at Home)
We know you didn’t go through nursing school, boards, night shifts, and bodily fluids of every variety just to lose your license over something avoidable. But the truth is—even good nurses can get into hot water.
So let’s break it down: the Top 10 Ways to Get in Trouble with Your Nursing License—and how to stay far, far away from them.
🚩 1. Charting Before Doing the Thing
Pre-charting your shift “because you know what you’ll do” might seem efficient—until it isn’t. If something changes and the record doesn’t match reality? That’s called fraud, friend. Chart in real time. Your license will thank you.
💊 2. Pocketing or Mismanaging Meds
Whether you forgot to return a refused med or signed off on a waste you didn’t witness, it’s a red flag or keeping a narcotic in your pocket for more than 30 minutes. If a narcotic audit doesn’t add up, your name could be in the spotlight. And that’s not the kind of attention you want.
📱 3. Oversharing on Social Media
Posting that patient room selfie might seem innocent (especially if no one’s in the photo), but HIPAA violations don’t play. And screenshots live forever. When in doubt, don’t post about work. Period.
😬 4. Getting Too Friendly With Patients
That sweet little old lady who wants you to take her bank card and PIN to the ATM? Or the discharged patient sliding into your DMs? Even dating a patient after your care is concluded. Set boundaries. What starts as kindness can end in a Board investigation.
🍷 5. Showing Up… Under the Influence
This one’s obvious, but still makes the list. Whether it’s alcohol, recreational substances, or misused prescriptions—don’t do it. Even one mistake can be career-ending. Get help if you need it. No shame in protecting your future.
📄 6. Fluffing That Résumé or Job App
Left off a job where things didn’t go so well? If your employer finds out (and they will), it’s not just termination—it could be a licensing board issue. Honesty > Hype.
📞 7. Ghosting on Mandatory Reporting
You see neglect, abuse, or unsafe conditions—and do nothing? That’s not just unethical, it could be illegal. Nurses are mandatory reporters for a reason. Don’t let silence cost someone their safety or cost you your license.
🩺 8. Practicing Outside Your Scope
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Policies differ between states and facilities. That skill you were allowed to do at Hospital A might not be allowed at Clinic B. When in doubt, check your scope and policy.
📆 9. Letting Your License Expire
You’d be amazed how many nurses forget to renew. Practicing with a lapsed license = unlicensed practice = big trouble. Set a reminder. Write it on your forehead. Tattoo it on your stethoscope. Just don’t let it lapse.
🔐 10. Sloppy or Incomplete Documentation
“If you didn’t chart it, it didn’t happen” is still the golden rule. Document thoroughly, factually, and in a timely fashion. The Board doesn’t care how short-staffed you were if something goes wrong and your notes are missing.
💡 Final Thought:
Nursing is in your DNA. Your license is your lifeline. Protect it like the precious gem it is. These top 10 aren’t just worst-case scenarios—they’re real reasons nurses end up under investigation every single day.
So, stay sharp, stay ethical, and keep on doing what you do best: caring for others while caring for yourself and your career.
