Nurses, I have said this more than once and I will say it again and again. If you are charged with a crime, regardless of whether its a felony or misdemeanor, retain a criminal defense attorney for your criminal matter and retain an administrative law attorney to counsel and advise you with the Board of Nursing matter. Don't wait until a criminal conviction or treatment in lieu of conviction has been entered in the criminal matter.
I say this because I speak with nurses regularly who want "free" legal advice and counseling regarding the interplay of a criminal conviction and the impact on nursing licensure. I don't provide free legal advice as an attorney just like as a home care nurse I don't provide patient care without the expectation of payment from my employer. Do you work as a nurse without an expectation of payment? I don't think so.
Attorneys can not provide with legal advice without first entering into an attorney-client relationship and this requires payment of some type of fee normally. It does in my law office anyway. Attorneys can provide you with information however you need more than "information" when you are charged with a crime and there are issues related to your nursing license.
My suggestion is to bite the bullet and retain an administrative law attorney with experience before regulatory boards to counsel and advise you on the licensure matter while the criminal matter is pending and to represent you before the Board in the event a complaint is filed.
I am sure you have other things to do with your money besides pay for legal services however considering that your license is your livelihood.....
This is just my two cents!!!
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