Here is a scenario I hear at least once a WEEK from a nurse who contacts my office:
The nurse receives a letter or a phone call from a Board of Nursing investigator. The investigator tells the nurse, that he/she would like to meet with the nurse to discuss an allegation(s) made against the nurse. The investigation is routine and should only take an hour or so. The nurse meets with the investigator. The nurse is interrogated about an incident that may have occurred months or even years ago. The nurse can't quite recall everything with the particular incident and is nervous of course. The nurse suspects that this may be more than a routine interview however he/she wants to cooperate. Also once the nurse tells his/her side of what actually transpired this entire thing will just go away, right? The nurse submits a handwritten statement after the interview and is not provided with a copy of the statement. Now, fast forward six to thirteen months later and the nurse receives a large mailing the Board. He/She opens the mailing to find a Consent Agreement that will resolve the Complaint filed against the nurse's license.
What would you do? What is a Consent Agreement? How will this Consent Agreement impact my nursing license, career, and future nursing-related goals? Do you contact Board staff to discuss your concerns with the legal document? Do you contact an attorney to discuss your concerns? Do you allow a nurse co-worker who was previously disciplined by the Board to review the legal document? Will I appear in the Board's newsletter?
Hindsight is always 20/20. Seek a legal consultation as soon as you learn that a complaint has been filed against your license and prior to taking ANY action, such as being interviewed, submitting documentation, etc.
Be Your Own Advocate because its YOUR license and YOUR license is your livelihood!
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