NURSING LICENSE DEFENSE
Lauren A. Leikam, Nursing License Defense Lawyer, helps Florida nurses like you protect your license, your reputation, and your job.
Lauren is a Florida nurse lawyer who’s successfully helped numerous healthcare professionals with medical license defense.
See How Lauren May Be Able to Help You, Schedule A Complimentary Consultation Today!
IS YOUR NURSING LICENSE BEING THREATENED BY AN ALLEGATION OF MISCONDUCT? HAVE YOU BEEN SUBJECTED TO A NURSING LICENSE DISCIPLINARY ACTION?
YOU MAY NEED A NURSING LICENSE DEFENSE LAWYER.
Is your nursing license at risk due to allegations of misconduct? Have you been subjected to disciplinary action by the Florida Department of Health or the Florida Board of Nursing? If so, it is crucial to seek immediate assistance from a skilled nursing license defense lawyer in Florida.
The licensing board’s primary responsibility is to safeguard the public rather than protect licenses. They’ll actively gather evidence to support the complaint against you. They won’t wait to start prosecuting you, so you shouldn’t wait to start defending yourself.
Don’t try to navigate the complex legal process alone. By hiring a Florida nurse license defense lawyer, you can have an experienced professional by your side who understands the intricacies of the laws and regulations governing nursing licenses in Florida.
Get a Florida nurse lawyer now.
Schedule a consultation with Lauren A. Leikam.
Remember: even having a casual conversation with an investigator could be used against you. That’s why the earlier you call Nursing License Defense Lawyer, Lauren A. Leikam, PLLC, the better.
Lauren has more than a decade of experience handling nursing license complaints. She’s a former prosecutor for the Florida Department of Health (FL DOH), and she now focuses on independent nursing license defense for healthcare professionals like you.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE FILES A COMPLAINT AGAINST A NURSING LICENSE:
You’ll receive a FL DOH Letter of Investigation, which sets response deadlines for critical steps in your nursing license defense. When you receive that letter, consulting with a Florida nurse lawyer like Lauren A. Leikam, PLLC, is vital to responding effectively and navigating the process through the Investigative File, a second formal rebuttal, a pivotal Probable Cause Panel phase, and possibly an Administrative Complaint, which is a matter of public record.
For a full explanation of the entire process, including what happens after the Administrative Complaint and why it’s crucial to have legal counsel, visit the FL DOH’s investigative and administrative complaint processes page.
Protect your professional license and secure your future with the guidance of a skilled nursing license defense attorney like Lauren A. Leikam, PLLC.
TYPES OF NURSING LICENSE DEFENSE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
DRUG DIVERSION
Penalty: An emergency suspension or restriction order from the Department of Health, and at minimum, a referral to the Intervention Project for Nurses.
This can include allegations of Pyxis or AcuDose errors, failure to properly dispose of medication, withdrawing medication for a discharged or deceased patient, or stealing from an employer or patient, especially controlled substances.
POSITIVE DRUG TESTS
Penalty: Automatic referral to the Intervention Project for Nurses and possibly an emergency suspension or restriction order.
People often associate drug test violations with illegal substances. However, you can face penalties if you test positive for any drug defined in Section 112.0455 of the Florida Statutes, governed by the Drug Free Workplace Act, without a valid prescription, including marijuana, even though it’s legal in some states.
CRIMES RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF NURSING
Penalty: A range of penalties, up to and including license revocation.
The list of crimes related to the practice of nursing isn’t restricted to things you do when you’re on the clock. It can include anything in your personal life that the Board of Nursing sees as related to your job — like theft, battery, or a DUI in certain circumstances.
FAILURE TO MEET THE STANDARD OF CARE
Penalty: Reprimands, fines, continuing education to probation or suspension up to revocation for second offenses.
It can happen at any time — you’re accused of failing to meet the standard of care in the performance of your duties. It’s one of the most common complaints against nurses. It can include a variety of allegations, such as failure to appropriately respond to a patient’s change in status.
These complaints are reviewed by a nurse expert at the FL DOH. As a nursing license defense lawyer, Lauren A. Leikam, PLLC, can also have your case reviewed by an expert — someone who understands nursing duties and can help you tell your side of the story.
IMPAIRMENT BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH
Penalty: Emergency Suspension or Restriction Orders and a referral to the Intervention Project for Nurses.
Impairment means being unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety. Reasons for impairment aren’t limited to the use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other material. A nurse’s co-workers, employers, or patients can also make allegations based on a mental or physical condition, drug diversion, or positive drug tests.
BEING DISMISSED FROM THE INTERVENTION PROJECT FOR NURSES
Penalty: Fines and suspension to revocation.
Whether you’re referred to the program, or you enter it on your own, being terminated from the Intervention Project for Nurses without good cause is a violation of the Nurse Practice Act.
Note: Being unable to afford the Intervention Project for Nurses isn’t considered “good cause.” So make sure you understand all the costs and obligations beforehand.
UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Penalty: Various based on the type and seriousness of the violation.
Unprofessional conduct encompasses a wide range of behaviors. It can include, but isn’t limited to: inaccurate recording, stealing, falsifying records, violating confidentiality, using force, or even engaging in language that can be considered foul, abusive, or threatening.
Some infractions are worse than others, which is why the range of possible penalties is too vast to summarize.
OUT-OF-STATE DISCIPLINE
Penalty: Usually the same as the state that imposed the original adverse action.
If you work in multiple areas, an adverse action in one jurisdiction is likely to impact your ability to work in other places as well. For example, if you have your license suspended or revoked — or if you’re denied licensure — in one jurisdiction, the Florida Board of Nursing will usually follow suit.
FAILURE TO REPORT A PLEA OR CONVICTION WITHIN 30 DAYS
Penalty: Fines, a reprimand, and suspension followed by probation. Repeat offenses can result in revocation.
If you are found guilty or enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime in any jurisdiction, regardless of adjudication, you must report the event in writing to the Florida Board of Nursing (or the FL DOH if there is no board) within 30 days.
Failure-to-report issues are usually tacked onto a crime related to the practice of nursing or other violations of the Nurse Practice Act.
Of course, these are only the most common violations that call for nursing license defense. It’s not a complete list, and it doesn’t fully explain the FL DOH’s investigative and administrative complaint processes.
That’s why it’s so important to get a nursing license defense lawyer on your side before you take step one or even talk with an investigator.
Remember: This is more than just a complaint. It’s a threat to your reputation and livelihood. Your future depends on what you do right now.
So don’t go it alone. Get someone on your side today.
Protect your job and your professional standing with Lauren A. Leikam, PLLC.
ABOUT LAUREN A. LEIKAM, PLLC: FLORIDA NURSE LAWYER
Having a dedicated legal advocate by your side is essential, and I have more than a decade of experience that includes working in the nursing section of the FL DOH’s Prosecution Services Unit.
Nursing license defense is my area of expertise, which is why I can offer comprehensive support to protect your nursing license, uphold your reputation, and help you restore your professional standing — just as I have done numerous times for Florida nurses all over the state.
I can also help you understand your rights and options. And I’ll be ready to provide you with the best representation before the Board of Nursing and the FL DOH before you even take step one.
Let’s talk. Schedule a complimentary consultation today.