My hands are itching. There is an old saying that if your hands itch its because you have money "coming your way soon."
Maybe I need to use more lotion but I think its because this is a license renewal year for RNs licensed by the Ohio Nursing Board. Requests for legal consultations are "off the hook" and "off the chain" in RN and APRN renewal years with the Ohio Nursing Board.
I am also having more consultations with respect to the Kentucky Nursing Board renewal application (annual) and the mandatory reporting of criminal convictions to the Kentucky Nursing Board. The Indiana Nursing Board is also kicking up dust, sand, and rocks with its renewal application questions, especially the one which asks "have you ever been terminated, discharged, or demoted in a nursing position?" Really!
I can tell you what I know and it ain't much.
1. The license renewal applications for the State Nursing Boards are changing and becoming more specific in reference to criminal convictions. Yes, I am sure the Ohio renewal app. will still have the moral turpitude language which includes everything, your socks, and the kitchen sink but there is a trend now towards specific and direct questions related to the disposition of criminal cases.
2. There are alot of nurses who are not (for whatever reason) truthfully responding to renewal applications and this is a problem. Big problem. It may catch up with you. Maybe you should speak with a license defense attorney to discuss the criminal case disposition and obtain a definitive response on whether or not "something" needs to be reported to the State Nursing Board.
3. Don't rely on the advice and counseling given to you by a criminal defense attorney UNLESS your criminal defense attorney is also a license defense attorney. Your criminal defense attorney may know his way around the courthouse but unless your criminal defense attorney practices before the State Nursing Board and is familiar with nursing law and practice (Nursing Law & Order, baby), your criminal defense attorney CANNOT and SHOULD NOT advise you on how the disposition of the criminal case will impact your nursing license(s), employment, career, and educational goals. Yes, damn it, I said it again this year.
Consult with a nurse license defense attorney if you are charged or indicted in the criminal court system for ANYTHING except a traffic ticket like speeding. Yes, pumpkin, this includes DUIs/OVIs/DWIs. Don't wait until your crim case is resolved before you start thinking about your license and your career.
4. Last but certainly not least, multi-state licensure. I am going to talk more about this in future blog posts because I was presented with a case, a very complex case, which touched on licensure issues before the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana State Nursing Board. I quoted a high fee because the case was complex. But actually complex is starting to become the new norm in license defense cases.
If you are licensed in multiple states and you have licensure issues try to obtain an attorney licensed in one or more of those states. Don't have three different lawyers (if you can prevent it) representing you before Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana State Nursing Boards. It just doesn't make sense. Do your research, take your time, and find an attorney with the license and qualifications needed for your license defense case.
4. Endorsement Applications for Licensure in a State. If you have to make affirmative responses on your application for licensure by endorsement, talk to a license defense attorney before you submit your application to get an idea of what to expect. Don't go into the process with a towel over your head and then become upset when you run into a wall.
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