The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2032, there will be nearly 1,350,000 nurses working in the United States. As a licensed nurse, you should feel proud of your achievements and your dedication to the communities in which you work. You’ve worked through nights, holidays, and everything in between. To all current and future nurses, your patients and the public are grateful for your sacrifices.
In light of the profession’s expected growth, understanding your state’s nursing board’s process in the event someone files a complaint against you is extremely important. While no nurse would ever want such an event to take place, being prepared is crucial, and you shouldn’t try to go through it alone. Your state’s nursing board has a team of attorneys and staff to handle complaints, and you need legal counsel in your corner. Attorneys are even advised to avoid representing themselves in defending their license because when your ability to practice is at stake, perspective counts; the same is true when dealing with your state’s nursing board.
Complaints Can Be Daunting
Getting notice of an inquiry or complaint can bring a whirlwind of processes, deadlines, and, most importantly, emotions, as your ability practice is at stake. Your first instinct might be to freeze, or maybe you feel that if you could just explain yourself that it would all go away. It can be hard to separate the stress you feel from getting a complaint from the rest of the process. Bringing in experienced legal counsel means that you can rest assured that deadlines will be met, complicated procedures will be explained simply, and that effective advocacy for you is the highest priority.
Complaints and the Need for Experience
It’s your legal right to retain counsel, and seeking an attorney during the inquiry process will not be held against you. Your state’s nursing board has its own attorneys and resources, and getting an attorney will only work to make the process fairer to you. Additionally, it’s not your responsibility to understand the nuances of your state nursing board’s processes. An experienced attorney can help you navigate your complaint or inquiry with a steady hand and a level head.
If you get a complaint, it’s likely that you’ll need to appear, in some capacity, before your state’s nursing board. When you do, their team is scrutinizing every word and asking questions that you may not be sure what the best answer is. It can be intimidating to face an organization which is the authority in your practice. In those instances, the guidance of an experienced attorney of your own who can help you prepare could make all the difference. As such, having an experienced legal team who will ask tough questions on your behalf can be essential when your license is on the line. Having the right team in your corner gives you the opportunity to level the playing field.
Takeaways
If you get notice of a complaint, never ignore it. Instead, you should turn to an experienced and trusted legal team to help get things on the right track. When your license could be on the line, experienced counsel can be the difference between returning to a rewarding profession and losing all the hard work you’ve done up to this point. You can find out more about what to do if you receive a complaint from your nursing board here, and more about what experienced counsel can do for you here.
