Surrendering A Nursing License

 You have received notice you are under investigation by the BON and they offer to resolve the investigation by allowing you to surrender your license.  Maybe you no longer practice in that state or maybe you have not worked in awhile or you are just burned out and not sure if you want to return to work.  Surrendering a license may seem like a quick and easy resolution for a stressful process, but you MUST do research and think about the broad ramifications of surrendering your license.  Surrendering a nursing license could result in you being placed on an EXCLUSION list which means you cannot work for any employer in any capacity that accepts Medicare/Medicaid or Federal funds.

So, maybe you are thinking of quitting work as a nurse and returning to work as an aide so that you can continue to do patient care. If you surrender your nursing license and are placed on either the federal or state Office of the Inspector General's exclusion list you would not be able to work as an aide because the LTC facility accepts Medicaid/Medicare.  Remember the exclusion is for any employer and any position.

The exclusion list can have other impacts other than just working in different positions in healthcare. The exclusion has also impacted a nurse who wanted to obtain a reverse mortgage which is funded by Federal monies--no monies if on the list.  Surrendering a license can also keep you from obtaining another professional license.  A nurse applied for a real estate license and was denied because of a surrendered nursing license.

Think carefully before surrendering your license and do your research.