VIRGINIA BEACH
The state Department of Health is investigating how well Sentara Healthcare complies with nurse licensing rules and so far is planning to cite the company with at least one violation.
The review was spurred by the arrest of a Sentara Bayside Hospital emergency room nurse who police say stole a dead man’s credit card and used it to buy an $1,800 computer. Matthew J. Wiseman, 24, who’s been charged with one count of credit card theft and one count of credit card fraud, is a registered nurse in West Virginia. Virginia doesn’t recognize nursing licenses from that state.
A Sentara spokesman said the company will have no comment until it receives the citation from the Department of Health.
“We have a pretty good idea what’s coming, but until we get it in its entirety, we won’t be in a position to comment,” said Dale Gauding.
Once they receive it, Sentara will have 10 days to explain how it will correct the violation , said Larry Hill, a Department of Health spokesman.
A further report on the department’s findings will be ready in about two weeks, Hill said.
Sentara has said a clerical error led to Wiseman’s hiring. Company officials announced an internal review of employees to make sure they had valid licenses.
Wiseman has a nursing license from West Virginia issued in June 2005, according to state records.
West Virginia is not part of what’s called the “Nurse Licensure Compact,” an agreement between states to allow nurses to have licenses in one state but practice in another. Virginia joined the group, which includes 20 other states, in January 2005.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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License when applying?
If that were the case, there would be no out of state applicants for positions in Virginia.
While I'm not a nurse, I did recently stay at a Holiday Inn Express. I think the way it works (or should work if that's not the case), is that a nurse applies for and is accepted to a position in Virginia. That person then has to obtain a Virginia license within "X" days of starting, or must have the Virginia license before begining work.
There are states with which Virginia has reciprocity, and sounds like WV is not one of them. Not sure how reciprocity impacts on when a VA license must be obtained.
Huh?
Sentara doesn't license nurses...the State does. Why isn't Wiseman being charged with practicing nursing in Virginia without a valid license? When applying for a job, one must present a copy of a valid Virginia license. No license, no job. It's not rocket science.