If you are a nursing student or a LPN, RN, or APRN and you are charged with a misdemeanor (unless its strictly a traffic infraction. DUI/DWI/OVI ain't just a traffic infraction) or a felony, you probably have an attorney whether its a public defender or a criminal defense attorney you retained to represent you.
I know you probably don't want to spend anymore cash but you need to speak with a nurse license defense attorney also about your situation.
What is a license defense attorney? See Download Licensedefensebrochure
I have had multiple consults with nurses who were convicted of misdemeanor(s) or felony(ies) in the last 3 months who told me "my criminal defense attorney contacted the Board of Nursing attorney and was told" one of the following:
1. Nothing is going to happen with this;
2. The case will be reviewed at a later date;
3. It depends;
4. We may be in touch with the nurse.
The Board staff are not being evasive, IMO. Its not that cut/dry to provide a definitive answer on the spot without a complete picture of the facts, criminal case history, and records. Also its not the role of State Nursing Board staff to tell your criminal defense attorney what can, may, might, should, would, or could happen after you are convicted of a state or federal crime.
Then the nurse receives a Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing from the Ohio Nursing Board or receives a Notice of Complaint from the Kentucky Nursing Board or the Indiana Attorney General Office of behalf of the Indiana State Nursing Board.
This is why you need to speak with a license defense attorney who practices before the Board because a license defense attorney can tell you more precisely where this is going based on his/her experience and what your options are before you accept a plea or after you accept a plea in a criminal case. Criminal convictions, licensure, and employability are the second Bermuda Triangle in nursing IMHO right after the application of nursing law, ethics, and professional standards in the nursing workplace. Did you know I published an article on the same a few years ago? See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18524302.
Healthcare licensing boards across the country are asking about criminal convictions on licensing renewal applications and may also require criminal convictions to be reported to the Board within 30, 60, or 90 days of a conviction.
If you want to know "what's up" with your license, then you need to speak with a nurse license defense attorney in your state or jurisdiction. See www.taana.org.
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