Samantha Heath

UNE Nursing Student

Month: March 2023

Obtaining and Protecting Your Professional Nursing License

March 22, 2023 /

I intend on becoming licensed by examination here in Maine. Maine is a Nurse Licensure Compact state which means that if someone has a nursing license from another compact state they can then practice in that other state without applying for licensure there unless they want to make Maine their new primary state of residence. The application is web-based and can be submitted online on the Maine State Board of Nursing website. Things that they require while applying for the NCLEX  are proof of legal residency, a certification of school form that is filled out by the applicant’s nursing program administration, and a final transcript is only required for applicant’s that are getting their degree from an out-of-state program. Maine requires applicants to complete a fingerprinting process to complete a criminal background check in order to apply. This process is done through an exclusive vendor called IdentoGO and applicants must go to the Maine State Board of Nursing website and fill out that they would like to obtain the criminal background check and they will be entered into the fingerprinting process (Department of Professional & Financial Regulation Board of Nursing State of Maine, 2017).

Some examples of disciplinary action that could occur against nurses if something is violated would be a warning, censure, reprimand, civil penalty, education, specific conditions of probation, suspension, and loss of license. Some grounds for disciplining a nurse would be alcohol or substance abuse, violation of law, rule, board order, incomplete or unprofessional conduct, inappropriate or unprofessional conduct, inappropriate prescribing, conviction of a crime, or fraud and deceit in obtaining a license. There is a program in Maine called Medical Professionals Health Program MPHP and this organization works towards helping healthcare professionals. There are many resources on their website and detailed information on how to seek help when struggling with substance abuse or mental health problems. There is also a link on the board of nursing website to a website full of helpful educational books for nurses struggling with substance abuse. You can also find a list on this website of all nurses that the Maine Board of Nursing has taken action against and have been disciplined. The board can take non-disciplinary or disciplinary actions based on the scenario (Department of Professional & Financial Regulation Board of Nursing State of Maine, 2017).

I will always make sure that I am documenting everything very thoroughly. I want to always make sure that I am caught up on charting because I cannot be one of the nurses that leaves all the charting for the end of the day because I will forget things. So I need to either make sure I write stuff down or periodically throughout the day take enough time to chart my assessments. I will also always make sure to do all my rights of medication administration so that I do not make any medication errors because those can be the most detrimental. I will make sure to witness wastes correctly and never allow someone to sign my name unless I have actually witnessed it or actually went in and checked the IV medication if that is what needed to happen. I will make sure to always ask for consent before touching a patient and never touch them without asking because no matter how gentle, it could still be assault if it was unwanted. 

References: Department of Professional & Financial Regulation Board of Nursing State of Maine. (2017). License by Examination: Licensing. Maine.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/licensing/examination.html 

Maternity YouTube Video Reflection Post

March 21, 2023 /

I watched a YouTube video about a transgender man that got pregnant and had a baby with his wife that was called, “Man Gives Birth To His Child, My Pregnant Husband.” If I were to be assigned this birthing couple, or this birthing person my reaction would be excitement to meet the couple or person and really get to know who they are and their story while aiding them in the birthing process. Since labor can be such a long process, that was the case with Ari being in labor for 30 hours, you can really get to know the patient and I just know that would be such a special experience with this couple. To learn about their experience navigating gender fluidity and blurring the lines of the stereotypical heterosexual pregnant couple’s experience would be an honor. Anytime I can learn about other people’s experiences I take that as a gift because it helps me be more empathetic, more sensitive to what other people are going through, and aids me in acting more kind to all.

Some ways of promoting inclusivity in a healthcare setting would be by asking patients what their preferred pronouns are when you are meeting them and then also let them know what your preferred pronouns are during introductions. Nurses should always add a note into the patient’s chart and pass it along in report if a patient requests to be addressed by a certain name or certain pronouns to make sure the whole team is aware. There could also be a note left on the patient’s whiteboard in the room with something such as, “Please use he/him pronouns,” or something similar, if they were comfortable with it. As nurses it is important to create a safe space for patients to explain their emotions and advocate for themselves and this will help patients be more comfortable during their vulnerable time while they are at the hospital. We need to utilize therapeutic communication and be the best listeners we can possibly be!

If someone were to incorrectly use female-specific language while giving their nursing report to the next nurse coming on shift, it could severely negatively impact the delivery of care because the nurse could immediately misgender the patient when they meet them. If the nurse giving the report uses the wrong gender the other nurse will likely write that down and go with that information. This could negatively impact the client nurse relationship if the patient is offended and it is very likely to leave the patient feeling hurt and misgendered. The patient will then begin to distrust the healthcare workers around them if they are constantly having to remind people of their correct gender when it should be vital information that is passed onto all members of that patient’s care team. If this keeps happening to this patient in many healthcare settings they may start to distrust healthcare as a whole the more it happens which could be very detrimental to their health in the future. 

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