Our country is in an economic state of shock because of the housing crisis. My 401K and IRA have both taken a beating. I am scared to open my statements now.
I am being contacted by more nurses who need and want attorney representation but who state they simply cannot afford attorney representation.
1. Purchase professional liability insurance with a licensure defense protection benefit NOW. These policies while not perfect will assist with your legal defense in a State Nursing Board case. You don't need it until you need but when you do need it, you really need it.
2. Borrow money whether its from a friend or family member or a banking institution. Cash in stock, borrow from your 401K, 403B, IRA, etc.
LPNs, RNs, and APRNs make decent money and therefore I am always surprised by the number of nurses who are not saving a dollar or two for a rainy day.
There is nothing wrong with living from paycheck to paycheck as a nurse. I read somewhere that the majority of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. Everyone has different circumstances.
However, what do you do when there is a State Nursing Board complaint that threatens your ability to work and earn that paycheck when you are living from paycheck to paycheck?
When you open the mail and find a complaint from the State Nursing Board it is a rainy day. You can represent yourself before the State Nursing Board or you can retain an attorney.
After 8 years of licensure defense, countless cases, and hundreds of consultations with nurses, I have learned this. There is a perception that there is no value in hiring an attorney in a State Nursing Board disciplinary investigation or hearing.
You are a professional, a licensed professional and being a licensed professionals has its risks. As a licensed professional there is always a risk that someone will file a complaint against your license. Regardless of whether the complaint has merit or is baseless, there is a process and procedure for the investigation of complaints filed against licensed professionals.
Attorneys like other service professionals expect to paid for services rendered. Attorneys like nurses have mortgages, car payments, and financial responsibilities.
You don't work as a RN, LPN, or APRN for free so don't expect an attorney to defend YOUR nursing license for free.
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