I plan to get licensed in the state of Maine, which is a Nurse License Compact state.
The Maine application is web based, and requires a transcript, school certification form and a criminal background check. The criminal background check is fingerprint based, and is done electronically through the maine.gov website.
There is an ‘Impaired Nurse Toolkit’ linked to the maine.gov website which details the mandatory reporting process, which includes information about mandatory reporting about substance abuse or alcoholism, receiving an allegation, conducting an investigation, progressive discipline, and training tools for supervisors and employees. The ‘Resources & Links’ tab on the Maine Board of Nursing website also has a wealth of information about Mandatory Reporting.
I think the best way to avoid legal issues like informed consent, malpractice, negligence, etc. is to be well-educated about state-wide nursing laws, as well as the individual institution’s guidelines that I am employed by. While there are systems in place to protect nurses, I am responsible for my own actions regarding my license, quality of care, and mandatory reporting. Nurses should not rely on malpractice insurance to prevent them from facing consequences, and instead should be focused on providing the best care they possibly can with the resources and tools that they have.
Thank you Evan!