This is the second post in my series on why Phoenix nurses should retain an attorney when they are dealing with their professional licensing board. My last post provided an overview of topics I will be discussing and stressed the need to call a lawyer if you are an RN facing discipline. It is important to contact counsel sooner rather than later. In this article I will discuss another important topic – why one should not face the Board without representation.
Some nurses may make the mistake of thinking that a hearing before their licensing board is “no big deal.” This belief comes from one not understanding the ramifications of a professional review. It is, unfortunately, common for a professional to think that they will simply explain their situation to the licensing committee and that the matter will simply work itself out. These nurses, however, are quickly surprised when they find out the serious extent to which licensing bodies take such matters. Such a nurse then may find themselves hurrying to retain a lawyer and having lost valuable time with which counsel could have been working to resolve the matter.
It is important for nurses to understand that in Arizona, like in many other states, their profession is “self-regulating.” This means that the nursing profession has its own board which oversees admission of new members as well as the discipline of new members. If it were to appear that the board was “being soft” on misconduct then there is a very real chance that the Arizona State Legislature would take action to bring the nursing profession more under the control of state administrative agencies. For these reasons you should expect the licensing board to pursue any matter with extreme seriousness.
Finally, a unrepresented nurse who interacts with their licensing board runs the risk of incorrectly presenting their situation to the board’s investigators or representatives. This can result in the nurse facing even more seriously charges or in making defense of the current charges more difficult. An experienced licensing defense lawyer can help a nurse to understand what information should be provided, when information should be provided, and the manner in which information should be provided.
I cannot stress enough the fact that you should contact a Phoenix nursing license defense attorney if you are facing professional discipline. I have extensive experience in handling such matters. Contact my office today to schedule an initial consultation. I also represent defendants in other Maricopa County cities such as Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert. My firm also assists Pima County residents in Tucson.
