I don't like to beg, but in these cases I will make an exception. Please retain legal counsel ASAP. It does not have to be me but hire a nurse license defense attorney to represent you if you receive:
1. An Order from the Kentucky Nursing Board requiring a Chemical Dependency Evaluation; or
2. An Examination Order from the Ohio Nursing Board.
A. Schedule an appt. with a nurse license defense attorney immediately after you receive the Order to review the Examination Order and your case from Day 1 until today;
B. Seriously consider whether or not really should be representing yourself before the Board in this case. Of course you can represent yourself and you have represented yourself up to this point BUT is it in your best interest to represent yourself going forward; and
C. I don't need a lawyer because:
1. Its too expensive.
Call around and obtain a few quotes from license defense attorneys about the cost of representation. If you need to borrow the cash, take a loan from the 401K or 403B, borrow money from your in-laws or parents, etc. just do it!
2. Hiring a lawyer make me look guilty.
Really. I am a nurse and a lawyer and if I am sued, charged, or being investigated for ANYTHING, my lawyer is involved.
Don't ask if you need a lawyer in these cases start with asking yourself why would you not have a lawyer here.
These cases are some of the most serious and priority cases before the Board because the case may suggest impairment, an inability to practice nursing safely, and other issues and you are representing yourself without a sense of urgency.
Hell just writing this blog post and the mention of an Examination Order from the State Nursing Board makes me nervous. I always take a deep breath and breathe slowly when I review an Examination Order from the State Nursing Board. Those docs are never nice.
You say hiring a lawyer makes you look guilty well I am honest (unless I am lying) and continuing to represent yourself in some complaints before the Board especially when Compulsory Orders have been issued is mind boggling.
How in the hell can you maintain the objectivity needed to represent yourself when an Order for a Chemical Dependency, Mental Examination, Behavioral Examination, Physical Examination, or Psychiatric Examination has been issued by the State Nursing Board?
In this cases and I am a seeing more and more and more, when I quote a fee I am going to do the following:
1. Take my usual flat fee range and multiple it by 3;
3. Substract $556.55 because the fee looks a little heavy;
4. Add the cost for extra Pepsi and Mountain Dew for 2-5 years; and
5. Divide by 1.5 which is the number of vacation days I have for 2011.
Comments