What is one of the most common reasons for license revocation among nurses?

Drug or alcohol abuse is one of the most common reasons for license revocation among nurses because it directly impacts a nurse’s ability to perform their duties safely and effectively. When a nurse is impaired due to substance abuse, they cannot provide the level of care required, which jeopardizes patient safety and compromises the standards of the nursing profession.

Substance abuse can lead to mistakes in medication administration, failure to follow protocols, and a general decline in judgment and critical thinking skills. Because the nursing profession holds a high level of responsibility for patient care, any behavior that compromises this responsibility can lead to disciplinary actions, including the revocation of a nursing license to protect public safety.

While factors like insubordination in the workplace, excessive medical errors, and failing to renew a nursing license can be serious issues, they often do not carry the same level of inherent risk to patients as drug or alcohol abuse does. Therefore, the regulation boards take substance misuse very seriously, making it a leading cause for license revocation among nurses.