FAQs Nursing License Defense ~ Texas

 

If you'd like to speak to a nurses attorney, please call to schedule a free consultation, (503) 232-9280.

Below are questions that nurses frequently ask about defending their nursing license.

Do I Need An Attorney To Help Defend My License?

If you’re debating whether you need a nurses attorney, it would probably be a good idea to call and schedule a free consultation. There’s no cost or obligation, and we can assess your situation. If someone has filed a complaint against you with the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), you can represent yourself, but it can be extremely helpful to have a lawyer by your side.

Who Can File A Complaint With The Texas Board of Nursing (BON)?

Anyone can file a complaint with the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), including patients, family members, colleagues, and employers. People who are angry with you can file complaints. The BON receives more than 16,000 complaints per year. If the BON determines that the complaint falls within their purview and has merit, the board will open an investigation.

What Types Of Complaints Are Filed With The Board Of Nursing?

The allegations filed against nurses typically fall into these categories: unethical nursing practice, unsafe nursing practice, incompetent nursing practice, criminal arrests, substance abuse, and mental illness.

How Long Do Nursing Board Investigations Take?

On average, nursing board investigations take six to twelve months.

What Types Of Disciplines Can The Board Of Nursing Impose?

Depending on what the board of nursing finds during its investigation, it can propose disciplinary sanctions ranging from a warning or reprimand to license suspension or revocation.

Do I Have To Accept The Nursing Board’s Discipline?

When the board proposes a discipline (known as an “Agreed Order”), you have the right to submit suggested revisions and/or request an informal settlement conference. If you can’t come to terms with the board, you have the right to an administrative hearing. If you don’t agree with the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ’s) decision, you have the right to appeal your case to the Texas Court of Appeals.

What Goes On My Permanent Record?

Even warnings and reprimands from the Texas Board of Nursing (which are the lowest level of disciplinary sanctions) become public record. BON publishes sanctions in their newsletter, which is available online, and reports them to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).

If you have any further questions, or would like to schedule a free consultation with a nurses attorney, please call (503) 232-9280, or e-mail contact@nursesattorneytexas.com. Note that the free consultation is ONLY for professional licensing matters.

Please note: Prior to becoming an attorney, Kevin Keaney earned his BSN from UT Austin and practiced as a nurse for four years. He is a member of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys and has more than 30 years experience practicing law. Kevin is licensed to practice in Texas, Oregon, and Washington.

Located in the Austin area, our law firm helps nurses from all across Texas, including: El Paso, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Amarillo, and Lubbock.