Kentucky License

While I was working in Florida, I received a letter in the mail from the Board of Nursing (BON) in Kentucky. It stated my Kentucky license was under review because I failed to register for a Kasper account (controlled substance monitoring system) while holding a DEA license in KY.

When I first started working in KY, I began the process of registering for a Kasper account. However, I noticed that you had to get the application notarized. Since the lead LPN had Kasper access at the clinic, he would normally look up patients for the providers and print us the report. Thus, since I thought I would only be there for 3 months, I didn’t complete the Kasper application.

Apparently, it is a BON requirement to have a Kasper account while holding a DEA in KY. I had to submit a notarized letter stating I am no longer practicing in KY and my DEA license has been transferred to FL, with proof. I submitted this documentation as soon as I could.

In the meantime, my agency had to notify my current job about my license being under review. It was a bit embarrassing because it was the same site as in KY and such a trivial reason. Fortunately, it did not impact my current assignment.

While looking for my next assignment it has been a bit of a nuisance to have this over my head. For example, multiple agencies have done a search on my licenses and requested documentation to support the reasoning for the investigation on my KY license. In addition, when doing credentialing I had to select “Yes” when they ask “have any of your state licenses ever been under investigation.” This caused a red flag for my upcoming assignment because they are strict when it comes to those things, regardless of how trivial the reason is.

It took almost 2 months for the BON to review my documentation to resolve the review of my KY state license. They sent me another letter stating I need to pay a $250 fine for not following the BON rules. Once I paid the fine and signed the agreement, the investigation was resolved. They also stated in the letter that this wasn’t an official complaint so I do not need to report this to other states when applying for licensure or to future employers. This was great news since I no longer had to answer “Yes” when they ask “have any of your state licenses ever been under investigation.”

A reminder to myself and others is to always read the Board of Nursing rules and regulations thoroughly. Since I hold over a dozen state licenses, sometimes it’s difficult to stay on top of things, especially when you are transitioning from job to job (or from state to state) so quickly. I have to remember that each state is so different when it comes to nurse practitioner autonomy and regulations.