Nursing is a difficult job. While there are times when it is rewarding to support patients and other medical staff, there are many parts of the job that are out of your control.
Additionally, you typically work with people when they are at their worst. You may be doing everything you can, but a patient may still feel frustrated and go online to submit a negative review.
Here’s what you should know about how an online review can impact your professional license.
Most common reason for disciplinary action
There are many reasons your nursing license could be in jeopardy. A professional conduct violation is the most common reason for disciplinary action. There are a few ways a professional conduct violation could originate, including:
- A supervisor who witnessed inappropriate conduct
- A complaint from a patient or their loved ones
- A colleague who saw the conduct in question
- An auditor or other official who observed improper conduct
These accusations can feel impossible to refute since it is your word and perception of the situation against the other person. It can feel incredibly frustrating when the person makes their complaint online after you cannot help them have a better experience.
Dealing with online complaints
Often, when a supervisor or other authority reads an online complaint about conduct, they realize that there are two sides to the story and that the situation may not be as bad as the review seems. However, that does not mean there will not be a review of the situation to determine if further action should be taken.
Depending on the accusation, you may find that the board of nursing will take the complaint seriously. It is essential to get professional support early in the process to know what to expect and how to proceed.