Can Unpaid School Loans Cost You Your Kansas Professional License?

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School Loan debt in the United States has reached $1.6 trillion. The massive amount is a record high, and making student loan debt second only to mortgage debt when it comes to consumer loan debts. About 45 million people are facing varying amounts of debt from obtaining their degrees, and many are making large monthly payments to creditors. There have been debates as to what penalties should apply in these cases.

More than one out of every ten borrowers have a loan in default. In total, five and a half million borrowers have defaulted on school loans, meaning $119.8 billion in loans have defaulted. It is important to note that most people cannot discharge their student loan debt in bankruptcy. What this means is that the massive debt for their school loans will stay with them for life, or until they find some way to pay them back.

Since you are unlikely to get rid of your student loan debt, what will happen to your professional license in the event that you end up in the more than ten percent of borrowers who have defaulted on their loans? In some cases, one form of penalty is a loss of a professional license.

Of course, losing a professional license will make it impossible for a person to work in the career that they studied and worked hard to obtain. It will also make it more difficult for that person to pay off their debt.

License Suspension States

By 2010, close to half of all states had laws that could cause the loss of a license for professionals who default on school loans. Most states with such laws allowed for the suspension of any professional license based on the default of any kind of education loan. The boards were often able to make the final decision, though.

States Begin to Backtrack

While loan debt has created a crisis across the country, many states began to realize that these laws were not productive. Several states made moves to repeal the laws and prevent a failure to pay school loans from causing a loss of a professional license. In most states, the licensing boards lost the ability to suspend or revoke a license based on the individual’s loan repayment status.

Some States Still Allow Loan Debt to Impact Initial License Applications

Only a few states have stated that student loan debt cannot be considered when a person is applying for a new professional license. This means that loan debt can be a factor weighed by licensing boards in many states.

Of course, aside from your license, there are many consequences related to failing to pay your student loans. In Kansas, you could have your tax returns or wages garnished to cover the loan payment costs. Your credit score will suffer significantly for failure to pay. In severe cases, it is possible that you could end up facing a lawsuit.

Any Denial of a License or Challenge to a Professional License Should be Taken Seriously

Kansas does not allow for professional license suspensions for individuals who failed to pay their student loans. Licensing boards may deny applications for other reasons, including something such as lying on the application. Additionally, a disciplinary action taken against a professional in another state could impact the ability of the professional to transfer his or her license to Kansas.

If Your License is Denied or Challenged, You Need Help

A challenge to a professional license or the denial of a license is a stressful event. Those who face such scenarios need to take them seriously and should reach out to a Kansas professional licensing attorney to discuss the claim made against them.

Contact the Missouri Professional Licensing Defense Attorney at Sanger Law today at (785) 979-4353 to discuss your case.

Social Media and Nursing Licenses

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More than two billion people across the globe are using Facebook. And that is only one of the many social media platforms being used by people to socialize, network, or just share their point of view. In some instances, social media can be useful for professionals. When it comes to those working in the nursing profession, these sites may help foster professional contacts, allow healthcare workers to share best practices or supporting information, or just allow for busy working professionals to stay in touch with friends and family.

When used properly, there can be many benefits to social media. Unfortunately, it is also easy for a single mistake or instance of bad judgment to have long-lasting effects on a person’s life and livelihood. It is possible for a nurse to post things online that will end up hurting them in the real world, potentially even creating a threat to their nursing license.

Judging What to Post

When determining if something is appropriate to post, it is a good idea to think about whether it would be an acceptable thought, comment, or photo to share in the workplace. There are some areas to be extra cautious about though.

Patient Privacy

One thing that will quickly lead to problems is posting personal information relating to patients. This could include photos that happen to have a patient in them. Posting this content would be viewed as a breach of privacy and can lead to an action against your license, as well as lawsuits, termination, and other unpleasant consequences. In some instances, the posts may have been well-intended as a way to get professional advice from a colleague. However, the results can be devastating for a nurse.

Do Not Complain About Work

Nurses can face trouble for posting about their employer or co-workers in a negative manner. This should apply to any job, as complaining online about your employer can obviously be problematic. It is not always clear who will see your post.

Personal Life Posts

While it might seem unfair, a person’s personal life can be considered in grounds for disciplinary action against that person in the nursing field. In one instance, a nurse’s license was placed on a three-year probation after his employer learned that he had received a DUI. While the DUI was not related to his professional duties, the court found that the Board of Nursing had the right to punish the professional.

Posting anything that suggests any violent or illegal conduct on the part of the nurse could be a problem, even if it was intended as a joke. Additionally, explicit sexual content and racially insensitive posts should be avoided.

Whenever using social media, the bottom line is to be cautious and always think twice before sharing a post. If you ever have a doubt about whether the post is appropriate, it is probably best not to take a chance.

Receiving notice that disciplinary actions have been initiated against you can be frightening. These charges, even if they seem unwarranted, should be taken very seriously. Hiring an attorney is a wise decision as the administrative process can be difficult and complex.

If you find yourself facing a challenge to your Missouri or Kansas nursing license or disciplinary action for something you posted on social media, Sanger Law can help you defend your case. Contact the Missouri and Kansas Nursing License Defense Attorney at Sanger Law today at (785) 979-4353.

Emergencies and Medical Professional Licenses in Missouri

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As COVID-19 runs through the United States, it is presenting a number of complicated issues for the government and the public. One of the biggest problems has been caused by a shortage of healthcare workers and essential professionals. Headlines are now coming out from states around the nation, explaining emergency laws being enacted in order to loosen the licensing guidelines for medical workers. For instance, traveling nurses will likely be able to start working in other states with fewer delays than they have ever seen in the past.*

Licensing procedures take time, but in an emergency such as the current one, there is not enough time to work through the normal channels. As a response, many states are loosening licensing laws to allow more professionals to be engaged in the battle against the virus.

State Reciprocity

One way that some states are working to fill the void of professional is by allowing medical professionals to work in states outside of where they are licensed. This means that nurse practitioners and nurses aids, among other workers, will be able to cross state lines to help in the hardest-hit locations. For instance, Washington, which was one of the first states to be struck by the virus, has activated emergency volunteer health practitioners and is allowing nurses from other states to volunteer without an in-state license. All these practitioners will require is proof of their own good standing in another state.

Nurse Practitioners Expanded Operations

Some states are making changes that will allow nurse practitioners to practice without a doctor present. Nurse practitioners who considered “advanced,” which means they have some graduate course experience and a minimum of 3,000 hours of experience working under a physician’s supervision, will be eligible to work under these looser guidelines.

Another approach to the crisis is the issuance of “emergency” licenses. These temporary and expedited licenses may apply even in states that are not a party to the eNLC. These states are trying to make it easier for these professionals to become active, at least for a limited time.

New York and Colorado are looking at ways to bring former healthcare workers back into the practice. In New York, the governor is asking these professionals to “reconnect” with their former employers to find ways in which they may participate in the response if current workers are too overwhelmed to handle the number of patients made sick by the virus. Similar please were made by the governor in Colorado.

As the virus begins to impact additional states, it is likely that more accommodations will be made to expedite licenses around the nation.

Missouri Response

Missouri legislators proposed a bill titled HB 2046, which would permit healthcare professionals who have out of state licenses to move to the state through a reciprocity program. The professionals would be required to have held a license for a minimum of one year, and be in good standing in order to qualify.

The national health crisis has highlighted the incredible importance of healthcare workers. States are now paving the way to get more professionals where they are needed.

Professional licensing practices can be complicated and challenging to navigate. Professionals also sometimes face challenges to their licenses that can put their careers and livelihoods in jeopardy.  If you are trying to navigate the process for obtaining or reinstating a professional license in Missouri, or if you are facing disciplinary action that threatens your license, the Missouri Professional Licensing Defense Attorney at Sanger Law can guide you and protect your rights. Contact Sanger Law today at (785) 979-4353.

Social Media May Put Teacher’s Careers at Risk

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Social media has become a common part of most people’s lives. In fact, about 74 percent of people above the age of eighteen are estimated to use websites for social networking. Some of these individuals work as teachers or in education.

While it is not a problem for a teacher to use social media, it is a problem if that individual is not wise regarding how they use their account. For instance, a teacher was fired in Colorado for posting Tweets that were deemed too “racy.” Another teacher was fired in Texas after putting a post on Facebook that was found to be racist. A teacher in Utah had to fight her school district to keep her job after parents complained about her fitness modeling photos on Instagram.

How to Avoid Social Media Drama

Look at Guidelines

The first place to start if you are a teacher concerned about your presence online is to look at any guidelines published by your school district or the county. The rules might already be established, and it is a good idea to understand what type of behaviors would be considered missteps. Once armed with this information, you can feel confident in your decision to post or not post on your social media accounts.

Pick the Right Photos

Of course, the photos you post can get you in trouble as well. If you are choosing a profile picture, make sure it does not show you drinking alcohol, doing drugs, or being involved in any questionable practices. While you might even think the photo is a joke, you cannot always control how that picture will be construed.

Do Not “Friend” Students

Another guideline to follow is to never engage with students on social media. Do not accept friend requests and make sure that you take steps to prevent your students from following you. Once they graduate, it could be appropriate to friend them and keep in touch, but not before that point.

Never Include Information About Your School

Be careful about including information that will affiliate your post with your school and employer. For instance, “geo-tagging” posts may lead your students to your account. Keep your profession general, and do not state the name of the school where you teach.

Naturally, one should never complain about work, students, or co-workers online. This rule should be followed by any professional, not just teachers, but it is important to remember that you may never be able to predict who will see your post.

While this should go without saying, do not post photos of your students on your account either. While some parents are completely on board with posting their children online, others strongly oppose doing so. Students have a right to privacy, and being seen as violating their rights will put you at risk of being disciplined.

Even if you think your account should not get you in trouble, remember that people have different values and that parents are often very particular about who is influencing their children. While the rules might not seem fair, it is a good idea to think about whether the post is worth potentially causing trouble for your professional life, leading to a threat to your livelihood.

If you are a teacher and you find yourself facing disciplinary actions for your social media accounts, you need to take those allegations seriously.

Sanger Law is here to represent you and help you navigate any challenges to your Kansas or Missouri professional license. Contact the Kansas Professional Licensing Defense Attorney at Sanger Law today at (785) 979-4353.