As a registered nurse, many people depend on your knowledge and integrity. With so many eyes on you at all times, the pressure to perform can be overwhelming and the risk of making mistakes can be extremely high. One small slip-up can result in disciplinary action from the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and put your career in jeopardy. These are the most common reasons your license could be questioned and the steps you can take to protect your livelihood.
Disciplinary Action
Professional misconduct on or off the job is a major reason the BRN can question your nursing license and hold an investigation. If you are found guilty, you are likely to receive consequences for your misconduct. Common disciplinary action includes:
- Fines
- Diversion programs
- Public reprimand
- Probation
- License suspension or revocation
Related Article: Can I Lose My Professional License For Using Marijuana in California?
Causes of Disciplinary Action
All nurses are held to the same high standards and are consistently in the public eye. This publicity, unfortunately, doesn’t prevent mistakes from happening. As a result, you can anticipate consequences from your board. BRN disciplinary action affects your nursing licensure status and your ability to practice nursing in California. These are the most common reasons your license could be subject to suspension or revocation:
- Ethical violations
- Charting errors
- Criminal convictions
- Drug use
- HIPAA violations
- Out of state discipline
- Inappropriate social media
- Outstanding tax fines
The severity of your discipline depends on the accusations against you and your work history. If you have a background of multiple offenses, the BRN may not take a new mistake lightly. That’s why it’s important to recruit professional help. Despite your track record, a license defense attorney can still help you manage your investigation and ensure you get the best outcome possible.
Related Article: What happens if a nurse is convicted of a DUI?
Managing an Investigation
Receiving a notice of investigation from your licensing board can feel overwhelming. In many cases, you may not even know the full extent of the accusations against you. As a result, you will not have the knowledge or expertise to properly represent yourself before the BRN, and you risk losing your nursing license. The best way to protect your career is to hire a nursing license defense lawyer. Your attorney can assist in reviewing any evidence against you, provide a mitigation packet to assist in settlement negotiations, and represent you at any hearing in front of your board. Additionally, your attorney will gather evidence to support a positive outcome for your case.
Contact Unlock Legal
Is your nursing license at risk? Our team at Unlock Legal can help. With over 20 years of experience, we can confidently face the BRN on your behalf and successfully protect your career.
Unlock Legal provides focused representation in criminal defense and defense for California licensed professionals. Contact Unlock Legal today or give us a call at 949-988-4444 to speak with a professional about your case and your unique needs. You’ll find we are compassionate, easy to talk to, and willing to help in any capacity we can.