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Attorney Chandon S. Alexander is a Las Vegas lawyer who is an active member of the National Trial Lawyers Association and has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Attorneys under 40. He is a member of the Clark County Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Nevada Justice Association.
The Nevada Board of Nursing is a state agency of Nevada with offices in Reno and Las Vegas. The Board was established in 1923 by the Nevada Legislature to regulate the practice of nursing. The Board declares its purpose is to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare through effective nursing regulation. The intent of the Board is to protect the public from unsafe practice by nurses. The Nevada State Board of Nursing has wide discretion to discipline and ensure the competence of its licensees.
Investigations before the Nevada Board of Nursing can arise from a number of sources such as patient complaints or complaints from an employer or health care provider. Complaints can be mitigated in the early stages if it can be shown that the complaint is without merit – this is why it is essential to have a qualified Las Vegas nursing license defense lawyer to assist in speaking with or interacting with investigators. If you are the subject of an investigation or complaint before the Nevada Board of Nursing in either Las Vegas or Reno, your career and license are subject to revocation or suspension which carries lifelong consequences, personally and professionally.
Hearings typically come in two forms. First, you could have an informal conference that will serve to resolve the issues. Second, you could have a formal hearing which is similar to a trial where you can subpoena documents, cross-examine witnesses, submit expert testimony and documentary evidence. Following this formal hearing, a formal order will be entered. You can appeal this Order to the District Court in Clark or Washoe County if you so choose. Having a Nevada nursing board defense attorney that can advocate on your behalf, negotiate where applicable, and appeal any adverse decisions is priceless when your career hangs in the balance. The Spartacus Law Firm has the experience and knowledge that you can count on to keep your license intact and mitigate harsh disciplinary actions. For more information, visit our article detailing the Nevada Board of Nursing and how we can help defend your license.
Generally, the Nevada Board of Nursing can refuse licensure to any applicant that has been convicted of a crime. However, if you have been convicted of a crime you will have an opportunity to address the Board to explain mitigating circumstances and rehabilitation. The type of conviction is significant in determining whether a license will be issued or revoked. The denial of licensure is as impactful as a disciplinary action, do not let a past mistake keep you from the career of your dreams. It is critical, even at an early stage, to seek representation from a Nevada nursing license defense attorney to guide you through the licensing process. The Spartacus Law Firm has an in-depth understanding of the Nevada Board of Nursing’s disciplinary process and can assist you with obtaining or keeping your license from being suspended or revoked.
If you have already been granted a nursing license in the State of Nevada and have been convicted of a crime after your license has been issued, the Nevada Board of Nursing subjects you to periodic background checks. Therefore it is important to self-report any criminal conviction in a timely fashion as well as speak with a Las Vegas nurse defense lawyer to ensure your license, reputation, and livelihood are not in danger.
A nurse’s license may be suspended for fraudulent actions, unprofessional behavior, failure to supervise, and plenty of other reasons. Some examples of situations where the Board may revoke or suspend a license include:
In addition, performing duties while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or suspicion of any substance use disorder also provides grounds for suspension or revocation. Luckily, a Las Vegas nursing license defense lawyer can gather the facts and help determine whether it is wise to bypass potential disciplinary proceedings and participate in a certified rehabilitation program instead.
It’s common for cases to involve a nurse losing their license due to substance abuse. Examples of this include being arrested for a DUI, diverting medications at work, appearing or being intoxicated at work, and many other instances where substance abuse affects their work. At the Spartacus Law Firm, our mission is to aggressively fight to keep your nursing license by deploying an air-tight defense strategy with the best chance of success.
Before you agree to any possible settlement or resolution of your case with the Nevada Board of Nursing, it’s recommended that you have a nursing board defense lawyer to assist you in the process. Believe it or not, there are many terms and conditions of a possible settlement with the Board that is negotiable. However, without the assistance of an experienced nurse attorney, you may not fully understand all of the possibilities and scenarios in your case. We can help you find all possible areas for negotiation with the Nursing Board, and tirelessly work to improve them.
We represent nurses who are facing a license application denial or a suspension/revocation of their license because they allegedly failed to disclose a prior criminal charge or conviction. This can pose a serious problem for those in the nursing field, however, it doesn’t mean that it’s not defensible. Our Nevada nurse defense attorney has seen this predicament plenty of times and have successfully navigated a resolution that allows a nurse to keep their license and continue to practice.
Arrests for criminal charges outside of the workplace can and often are disciplined by the the Nursing Board. Although the arrest may not be job-related, the Board considers criminal activity to be unprofessional conduct and in violation of their code of ethics. The arrest could be for any misdemeanor or felony, some of the more common instances include:
You then must agree to temporarily surrender your nursing license or certificate through an agreement process and seek necessary treatment. Next, you need to submit documentation to the Board that they have successfully completed a Board approved treatment program that includes the following:
In total this will require 180 hours of programming. You must also submit documentation to the Nevada Board of Nursing that you have successfully attended at least one AA/NA meeting every day for 90 days in a row. The treatment program must be completed within 6 months of acceptance into the program.
Many of these complaints stem from practicing without the proper credentials and a valid nursing license. Patients, doctors, other nurses, employers of nurses, or the general public may file a complaint against a nurse for various reasons, including illegal, unsafe, unethical, or incompetent nursing practices. Some of the most common complaints against nurses in Nevada include:
Because Nevada is a mandatory reporting state, it is the duty of each citizen to make reports of cases that involve physical abuse, exploitation, malpractice, sexual abuse, and other serious offenses. As a result, nurses are especially vulnerable to being accused, falsely or justifiably, of one or more of these offenses given their line of work. Anyone can report an instance of misconduct, including patients, caregivers, family members, and even co-workers.
No matter the reason for the report, an open investigation can threaten your career and your personal reputation. As a nursing professional, trust is a crucial piece to being able to perform your job correctly. Your patients, their families, and your coworkers all place a significant amount of trust in you to perform your duties to the highest of your ability. However, once a complaint against you is filed, your employer’s faith in you as a nurse may begin to decay, and you may find yourself losing the support you need. This is why we strongly recommend that you speak to a Las Vegas nursing license defense attorney as soon as you hear about a potential misconduct claim.