Question: Dilemma Involving an Expired Nursing License At your long-term care facility, it is a policy that licensed employees have a current, valid medical license. This is in keeping with the state licensing code. It is always difficult to get people to bring their license in to verify that it is current. You have just come from a meeting with the director, who reminded you that you must not have people performing duties that require a license if the license has expired. You decide to issue a memo stating that you will suspend all employees who have not verified their licenses with you. Following this, all of the LVNs/LPNs brought their licenses in for verification. However, one of the LVNs/LPNs has an expired license.
When questioned, the nurse admits that payment for relicensure was not made until after your memo was received. This nurse delayed payment because of a financial crisis. You call the licensing board and learn it will be 2 weeks before the employee will receive the license in the mail or before web verification of the license is possible. Active license status cannot be verified over the telephone. You consider the following facts. It is illegal to perform duties that require a license without one. The LVN/LPN had prior knowledge of the licensing laws and hospital policy. The LVN/LPN has been a good employee with no record of prior disciplinary action.
ASSIGNMENT: Decide what you should do. What alternatives do you have? Provide rationale for your decision.