Are You Receving Legal Advice from your colleagues at the Water Cooler?

I was contacted by a nurse who is involved in three state Nursing Board investigations. The nurse was told by a colleague that she should just surrender her license in two states and keep her license in one state.

It would be that nice if it were that simple. When you need legal advice, do you go the water cooler at work? The water cooler being the place in an office where folks chat and discuss personal and professional affairs. For nurses it can be the nurses station, lounge, etc.

No one likes to contact attorneys. I feel the same way when I have to contact my  accountant and I really like my accountant. Its a good year for me if I only have to see my accountant around tax time. 

If I had $29.95 for everytime a nurse received legal advice about a licensure or professional practice matter from a person who is not licensed to practice law, I could retire and be a stay at home mom to my five dogs and underemployed/unemployed 18 y/o son.

If you need legal advice consult an attorney. The water cooler is not the place for legal advice and counseling on licensure and professional practice matters for nurses.

Comments

[latonia]

Hi T.,

Thank you for your comment. I am sorry to hear about your license issues. I would highly suggest that you retain an attorney in your state to assist you and review any correspondence, hearing transcript, and other documentation you may have. Hearings are not as formal as a civil or criminal trial but hearings are formal proceedings and you should have attorney representation if you have a hearing scheduled before the Nursing Board. The majority of nurses represent themselves in State Nursing Board cases despite the risks involved with license sanctions, revocation, or denial of licensure. I will have my assistant email you to see if we can refer you to an attorney in your state if you are outside of OH, KY, or IN.

[T. Packard]

In 2006 I had an Administrative Hearing regrding my Vocational Nursing License. This hearing was suppose to be an informal preceding, so I was told by a Nursing Board repreasentative. I was told that they only wanted to hear my explination of the events in question and an attorney was not necessary but, I could hire one if I chose to. Once in the hearing I was in a state of shock and found out that I was not prepared for what was to come, it was everything but informal. Shortly after I was denied my license and I have been fighting for them every since. I need help with obtaining my license. My life has been turned upside down. Contact me @ packardfamily_3@hotmail.com if you have any advice for me. I would be eternally greatful.