I have been applying to hospitals around Massachusetts, and that is where I intend to become licensed by examination. Massachusetts is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state. People can apply for the RN examination through an online application found on the Mass.gov website, it can also be done on paper. The state needs to see a certification of graduation and a final transcript sent directly from the school.  Nurses in MA will need to comply with the Good Moral Character requirements and will ask for the persons consent at the time of the application submission for a background check. The background check will be conducted by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) database. A CORI acknowledgement form is required for all nursing applicants and advanced practice authorization.

In Massachusetts, there are laws and regulations put in place for nurses to report suspected patient abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of a disabled person as mandated reporters. Nurses also have a duty to report to the board if they see a nurse practicing while impaired by substance abuse or if they see diversion of controlled substances. There is a disciplinary action put in place if a nurse is caught doing any of these things. The MA Board of Nursing may impose on any license to inhibit that nurse from practicing in MA or APRN authorization and the right to renew the license. The disciplinary action would go to a national disciplinary data reporting system. On the mass.gov website, there is a list of actions that the state could take as well as a list of definitions regarding the disciplinary actions. The MA Nurses Association provides a free and confidential Peer Assistance Program to nurses that are seeking recovery. There are numbers online to call in order to get help through the MNA.

I feel as though it is very important to understand all of these topics talked about. It was very helpful having zoom classes where the Attorney General’s Office and the Medical Professionals Health Program spoke with us. Aside from them speaking with us, I have also heard stories from nurses of times their license was put at jeopardy when they did nothing wrong. This makes me nervous and extra cautious to protect it when I get my license. When I am a nurse, I will always make sure I have the patient’s consent before doing anything. When I care for my patients, I will explain all the care I am doing and each medication I give to them and ask if they have any questions. I will make sure to investigate before I report an issue or suspected abuse, but I will make sure that I do report it because it would benefit the patient whether it is for the patient or another nurse that I am reporting. Having good communication with each one of your patients as well as the unit in the hospital you work for will be beneficial and decrease the chance of any legal issues happening. I will always hold myself to a high standard as a nurse and make sure to think of my license with anything I am doing.