3 Things To Do If You Have To Defend Your Nurse License

If you earn your living as a nurse, you never want to risk losing your license. When you get your license reprimanded, suspended, or revoked, it could put your entire career and earning potential in serious jeopardy. You need to learn the facts of any license removal case so you can put together a proper defense. Here's 3 things to do if you have to defend your nursing license.

1. Know the facts of why your nursing license is under review or threat

If you are under a review of any kind, you're required to be notified in writing and are entitled to a hearing. These reviews happen under the umbrella of your state nursing board. People lose their nursing licenses for a wide variety of reasons. The state board could claim that you didn't observe proper professional care of a patient or exhibited neglect of responsibilities. These issues sometimes turn into criminal matters. Learn, in detail, whatever is included in your complaint so that you can put together a defense against it.

2. Hire a nursing license defense attorney

You also need the professional assistance of an attorney that handles nursing license defense cases. This way, you can craft a defense that is proven to work. Your nursing license defense attorney will help you track down evidence that explains your side of events, and protect you from any liabilities.

When you're facing a hearing, your lawyer will help you to communicate your defense and secure witnesses that can speak on your behalf. Your lawyer will also advise you on what professionals and officials you should contact and will help with any negotiations on your behalf.

Always ask if they can bill you in installments so that you don't have to foot the entire cost upfront. Lawyers might charge more than $100 per hour for their services, so it's possible that you'll need to pay the bulk of your legal fees on the back-end. However, if you lose your nursing license, you lose your ability to earn income, so spare no expense to protect it.

3. Await the results and prepare an appeal if necessary

After the hearing, the state board is required to notify you of a decision within a set period of time. If the hearing doesn't go your way, you're also entitled to an appeal. These appeals require a formal written request, usually within a certain number of days from the rendering of a decision. Your lawyer will help to set your expectations so that you are prepared to take the next steps no matter which way it goes.

With these three tips you can defend your nursing license if necessary.