ATLANTA -- A new law and a new requirement for nurses came close to putting one career on hold Monday, just one day before the mandatory filing deadline.
Karen Gordon, a Pediatric Nurse practicing in Georgia for 21 years, found out that for the first time she had to submit verification of citizenship to get her nursing license renewed, due to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act passed last year.
Gordon had to submit a copy of her passport, driver's license, permanent resident card, or other verifiable document to prove she was not illegally in the United States.
She said she faxed the passport three separate times to a number the nursing board acknowledged, but was told it never arrived.
Her supervisors told her without a renewal by Tuesday night's deadline, she would not be permitted to work until she got the proper paperwork.
"I was told by someone at the state board that I needed to resubmit it. I told them I had already sent in two copies and I was told to do it again," Gordon said.
After 11Alive's Help Desk contacted the Georgia Secretary of State's office and the state nursing board, Gordon sent her passport information once again. This time, the nursing board says they have received it, and that she has been recertified.
Despite other problems being noted from other nurses, the secretary of state's office says nursing license renewals are up to date and should all be processed by Tuesday's deadline. All told, the state is recertifying 54,000 nurses by a January 31 deadline.