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.

Missouri Denied my Professional License; What Can I do?

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Many professionals, including teaching, chiropractors, doctors, nurses, and psychologists, require a state-issued license. The licensing board has certain requirements when it comes to acquiring a license. Of course, these professionals undergo years of formal education before they even get to the point where they must apply for their license. If a professional has invested money and years of their lives working towards their professional goals, just to be denied a license, the results can be devastating.

It is important to remember that if your license is denied, this is not the end of the road. There are ways to challenge the decision and to potentially acquire the license despite the Board’s initial determination.

Why would my license be denied?

Of course, there are formal requirements when applying for a license. A person who fails to meet those requirements, for instance, someone who did not pass a particular exam, may not be eligible to obtain a license until they complete all of the necessary steps.

In other situations, a person’s past may cause them trouble, and their license may be denied because of something on their record. A criminal past can be a reason for the Board to deny a license, but the facts of each case will be important to the Board when they make that decision.

Some factors that will be considered include the severity of the crime. Obviously, a sex offender may be denied a teaching license, but there are other less obvious cases. A nurse, for instance, may be denied a license for having a DUI. A DUI may not be an indication of the nurse’s ability to carry out his or her professional duties, but the denial may come after the Board views that conviction as a sign of who that person is and whether he or she could do harm in that profession.

In a case where it is not entirely clear that the earlier conviction is relevant, there will be other factors for the Board to consider. Those include how recent the conviction was and whether the professional has participated in a rehabilitative program. If the conviction is brand new, this may cause the Board member’s concerns, whereas a ten-year-old conviction might not seem as relevant.

Do I have to Report Past Violations?

When it comes to trying to obtain a professional license, do not lie on any of the forms. Criminal histories may come up in later searches, and lying will cause the problems to become much worse. You might have to explain a past transgression, but trying to hide one will only hurt you in the long run.

Can I Challenge the Decision?

Yes. You can challenge the decision, but there are time constraints and a complicated system to navigate in order to do so. The good news is that the decisions are definitely not final, and you can challenge them to overcome the obstacle and acquire the license you have been working to acquire.

Hiring an Attorney

When it comes to a professional license, you should never take the situation lightly. You have worked too hard to have your efforts fail  just before you obtain the license and start your career.

Hiring a Missouri Professional Licensing Defense Attorney will not be taken as an admission that you have done something wrong, but as an indication that you take your career very seriously and are willing to work through the official channels to ensure that you gain your license.

If you have any questions about how to challenge a Missouri license denial, contact Sanger Law at (785) 979-4353 to learn how we can advocate for you.

Sealing Nursing License Complaints

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Anyone can file a complaint against a nurse. In some cases, families will blame medical professionals when something goes wrong with a loved one’s medical condition, or workplace disagreements can lead to bad blood between co-workers, and a nurse can learn that a complaint was filed regarding his or her conduct. When your profession is at risk, this can be a disheartening, stressful, and frightening occurrence. The complaint may also seem entirely unwarranted or unjust. Perhaps the nurse even knows who complained and the real reason that the individual is seeking to harm his or her profession.

Of course, every nurse who has a complaint filed against them should address these claims seriously and in a professional manner. It is important to hire an attorney to defend against the allegations, regardless of how ridiculous those claims may seem.

The board may see the complaint for what it is, and the nurse may be cleared from wrongdoing. However, in other cases, the complaint may remain on that person’s record. When it comes to professional reputations, complaints matter, potential employers may find the complaint, and without context, make a judgment call about the professional that is not warranted. The nurse who was complained about may find that they are immediately placed on the defensive, trying to explain away something when they were never in the wrong.

There are ways to Seal the Record

The Board has the power to seal the record, and therefore protect the professional from the unfair implications of the complaint. There are several reasons that the records may be sealed.

First, the Board may choose to seal a record because they have determined that the professional has not acted in violation of the Nursing Practices Act. If there was no violation, the Board might opt to seal the records as there is no reason to keep that information available.

In other cases, the board may not determine definitively that the nurse did not violate the Act but may find that there is not enough evidence to substantiate the claim made against the professional. In this instance, the accusations cannot be proven, and the Board can seal the records.

There are other cases that are more complicated, though. In these instances, the Board may make a disciplinary decision that the nurse believes is incorrect or unfair. The nurse has the right to appeal to the Missouri Court System, and the court can override the decision made by the Board. The judge is responsible for determining the outcome in these cases.

What Happens Once the Record is Sealed?

If the record becomes sealed in any of the above ways, then the nurse can effectively move forward without the complaint haunting his or her career. The effect of sealing will make it as though the complaint had never been filed in the first place. No public records containing the complaint will be maintained.

For these nurses, it is appropriate to answer “no” when they are questioned as to whether they have ever had a complaint filed against them. When a possible new job opportunity presents itself, the employer will not come across that troublesome complaint.

If you are facing disciplinary actions against your professional license, there are ways to fight the allegations and protect your profession, and your reputation. Your livelihood is important, and anything that threatens it should be addressed head-on.

Contact the Missouri Professional Licensing Defense Attorney at Sanger Law at (785) 979-4353 to find out how we can help.

 

Doctor Surrenders License in Kansas After Medical Board Review

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Doctors understand the value of their medical licenses. Without a license, the doctor cannot practice their profession. Years of hard work have led to their profession, and in many cases, practicing medicine becomes a part of a person’s identity in addition to their livelihood. When a complaint is made against a doctor’s license, the situation can be stressful and, in some cases, devastating. It is important to take complaints seriously and to fight against any allegations. When it comes to a medical license, there is a great deal at stake.

Doctor in Kansas Surrenders License

A doctor in Kansas recently opted to surrender his professional license after he was investigated by the state’s medical board. The physician was operating an anti-aging clinic and a wellness spa. It is not clear why the doctor was being investigated, but the same physician had previously had his license suspended. Nearly twenty years ago, Kansas suspended the man’s license after he engaged in sexual relations with a nurse and two patients. In Missouri, the same physician had been investigated for failing to complete registration for a controlled substance. The substance in question was testosterone.

The board recently placed an emergency suspension on the doctor’s license after stating that the continued practice of medicine by the individual would lead to an imminent danger to his patients. The doctor eventually agreed to surrender his license to end the most recent investigation.

Why would a Doctor Lose Their License?

Doctor’s licenses may be challenged for a number of reasons, including poor quality of care to their patients, sexual abuse or misconduct, mental impairment, drug or alcohol abuse, or administrative misconduct. When it comes to the medical profession, these individuals are required to meet a high level of care and must abide by strict professional guidelines.

In many cases, the allegations may not be true, or the case is not clear cut. When the medical board receives a complaint about a doctor, there is a process that the board will go through in determining whether to take disciplinary actions against that physician.

The penalties a person will face will depend on the severity of the misconduct. Given the potential for a severe outcome, including the loss of a medical license, it is crucial that a doctor who receives notice of a complaint address the allegations aggressively.

Defending a medical license

If you are facing an investigation, you will have to provide a defense at a hearing. Hiring an attorney to handle the issue can help doctors understand how to best protect themselves and their livelihood. A lawyer who specializes in professional licensing issues will help you to understand what to do and can ease some of the stress brought on by the allegations.

Another step to take is to contact your malpractice insurance provider. Contact should be made as soon as you are aware of the investigation. In many cases, the insurance policy will require that you take this step promptly. Contacting your insurer will help protect you in the future.

You may also speak to your attorney about whether you need to hire an expert to defend you. You might know people in the medical field who would be helpful in providing a defense at your hearing. Tell your attorney and ask if this is necessary for your given situation.

The Kansas Professional Licensing Defense Lawyer at Sanger Law are ready to help protect your profession. Contact us today at (785) 979-4353  to discuss your case.

Opioid Case Leads to Pharmacist Losing License

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The opioid crisis in America has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths across the United States. In fact, new reports indicate that about 99,160 more people were killed in this epidemic than previous reports had determined. In total, about 450,000 people across the country have lost their lives in opioid overdoses.

The issue has become a complicated one because it brings up questions about professional responsibility for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. The people becoming addicted to these powerful drugs often are not individuals who are seeking street drugs. Instead, many of these people are initially prescribed the pain killers by their doctors.

Pharmacist Loses License

A pharmacist recently made headlines when he was required to surrender his professional license after being accused of illegitimately selling painkillers to patients. The consequences for the filling of prescriptions that were deemed questionable included a $600,000 fine, and his business can no longer carry controlled substances.

A court found that the pharmacy ignored red flags and continued to fill prescriptions, especially for opioids to patients who other pharmacies had already cut off. One person at the pharmacy reportedly expressed concern, but the pharmacist stated that his policy was to fill prescriptions for anyone whose doctor had written one.

As the opioid epidemic has spread, similar stories are taking place throughout the country.

Medical Professionals Caught in A Difficult Place

For many in the medical field, the opioid crisis has presented challenges. On the one hand, the spread of addiction is a serious concern for the nation and one that needs to be properly addressed. At the same time, doctors prescribe opioids for a reason. These drugs are a form of medication that has a proven benefit for patients. Doctors are required to do what they can to adequately treat their patients but are also required to abide by strict regulations. Additionally, many doctors are having to base part of their decision on what their patients are reporting to them.

It is a dangerous and challenging place for doctors to be when treating their patients to the best of their ability could potentially place their career and more at risk. The same holds true for pharmacists who are filling those prescriptions. The limited amount of information available means that pharmacists may be making a decision that could harm their patients and put their career in jeopardy, or they could be simply providing a needed medication to a person with a valid reason for that drug. The line between the two may not always be clear.

Pharmacy License Defense

Pharmacists are required to obtain licenses to practice in Missouri and Kansas. When a complaint is made against a pharmacist, this can lead to disciplinary actions against that individual. In serious cases, the person could lose their ability to practice his or her profession.

For professionals who are accused of a violation, it is incredibly important to address the allegations. Licensing laws permit anyone to file a complaint. This means disgruntled clients or hostile coworkers are able to file complaints that may not always be valid. The state allows professionals the opportunity to defend themselves.

One of the first steps to take when accused of committing a professional violation is to hire a professional license defense attorney. Professionals should never try to handle these situations on their own and should not discuss the allegations with anyone but their attorney.

The Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney at Sanger Law are ready to help you navigate the professional licensing system. We are ready to serve as your advocate and to protect your livelihood. Contact us today at (785) 979-4353 to discuss your case.

Driving Under the Influence and Nursing License Complications

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When a person gets convicted of driving under the influence, the consequences include risks to their driver’s license, fines, and in some cases, jail time. The process can be stressful, frightening, and confusing. To make matters worse, there are some situations in which the conviction may impact a person’s professional life.

Nurses work hard to complete their education, training, and to acquire their licenses to practice in the state of Missouri. If you are a nurse, or trying to become a nurse, and have been convicted of driving under the influence, or driving while intoxicated, it is important that you contact an attorney to learn how to protect your license and livelihood best.

Drunk Driving Impacts on Nursing License

For registered nurses, a conviction for a drunk driving-related offense will create certain mandatory notification requirements. The offense will have to be reported when the nurse applies to have her license renewed. The Missouri State Board of Nursing has the option of disciplining nurses in certain circumstances. When an offense is one that impacted the individual’s functioning, qualifications, or duties as a nurse, or if the illegal act is a crime involving moral turpitude, repercussions will follow.

While Missouri courts determined driving while intoxicated is not a crime involving moral turpitude, it is possible that some sets of facts may differentiate a case. If a nurse has been convicted multiple times, or other aggravating factors surround the conviction, then there is a greater chance of the Board choosing to take action against the professional’s license. A nurse may find that his or her license is at risk of being revoked because of the conviction.

New Professionals Seeking Licenses

If you are convicted or driving under the influence before applying for your nursing license, you are required to provide the board with a list of any convictions, no contest please, or guilty pleas that are on your record. If you have previous drunk driving convictions, other crimes, either felonies or misdemeanors, they must all be submitted to the Board for their review.

The Board will make a determination on the application after reviewing all of the information provided. If the conviction is old and the candidate has undergone rehabilitation, the Board will factor that in, along with how severe the offenses were and the types of crimes. Having a prior conviction is not necessarily going to prevent a nursing student from becoming licensed, but he or she may need to convince the board of his or her rehabilitation.

In these cases, the applicant will not be able to receive a temporary license until the review is completed.

Beyond Licensing Complications

Even in situations where a nurse is able to keep his or her professional license, the consequences of a drunk driving conviction could impact that individual’s career. Potential employers may see the conviction on the candidate’s records and therefore choose not to hire the person. Employers may make judgment calls about a candidate’s professionalism, reliability, or maturity based on these factors. Getting a conviction removed from a record can take many years.

It is important to remember that these convictions can have far-reaching consequences even after the technical issues are handled.

If you are concerned that a DWU or DUI on your record may impact your Missouri nursing license, it is important for you to contact a Kansas Professional Licensure Defense Attorney. Contact Sanger Law today at (785)-979-4353 to discuss your case.

Why Do Educators Lose Their Licenses in Missouri?

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For many teachers, their profession is not only their livelihood but also a part of their identity. The loss of a teaching license is devastating for these professionals. While teachers are fairly-well protected in their position, some do lose their ability to teach or have their licenses suspended. Educators who believe that their licenses are at risk should immediately contact an attorney to discuss the best way to protect themselves.

Causes for Suspension in Missouri   

In Missouri, it can be difficult to gauge why teachers in the state lost their licenses. While there are strict and in-depth background checks for teaching candidates who are seeking their licenses, the information about teachers who lost theirs is limited. The state recently received a “D” in a report carried out by USA Today on state’s procedures for looking into teacher’s backgrounds. When looking at Missouri’s database for teachers who were under disciplinary action, the reason for the discipline is not included.

The details are so slim that even one suspected rapist and murder’s license status only indicates that it expired, not that he is suspected of heinous crimes. When digging deeper into the issue, including looking at court documents and records recovered through the state’s Sunshine Act, reporters were able to discover the main reasons that teachers in the state faced suspension.

In analyzing records collected since the 1980s, investigators found 687 educators who had lost their licenses in Missouri, or who voluntarily gave up their licenses. The majority of the individuals were teachers. The leading cause of license suspension was sexual misconduct with a child, which accounted for 211 of the lost licenses. Another 108 also involved sexual misconduct. Fifty-five of the cases were misconduct of a non-sexual manner that involved a child.

Other reasons for suspensions included theft, breach of contract, assault, battery, and alcohol abuse. In twelve cases, teachers lost their licenses for murder or manslaughter.

What can an Educator do to Fight a Suspension?

When an educator finds his or her professional license is in jeopardy, it is important to address the accusations proactively. It is vital to speak to an attorney as soon as possible to avoid making any mistakes that will only make matters worse.

In many cases, the accusations are false or may be the result of a misunderstanding. The accused may feel that it will be easy to clear things up by speaking on his or her own behalf. However, no matter how certain you are that you are innocent, you must make sure that you protect yourself. In addition to finding an experienced advocate, keep all relevant documentation. Having any evidence that helps your case is important, so put all of it in a safe place so that you are able to provide it to your attorney.

Do not discuss the issues with your colleagues, friends, or anyone other than your attorney. Never speak to the investigators without having your attorney present, and do not turn anything over to investigators without consulting your lawyer. While you might feel that you have nothing to hide, misinterpretation can occur, and you might do further damage to your case.

Contacting an attorney is not an admission that you have something to hide. Hiring a professional to handle your case indicates that you take the situation and your career seriously.

If you feel that your professional license is in jeopardy, contact the seasoned Missouri Professional Licensing Defense Attorney at Sanger Law today at (785)-979-4353.

Multi-State Licensing Complications and Disciplinary Actions

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The Missouri State Board of Nursing issues licenses nurses in the state and will handle any disciplinary actions against a professional who violates their license. When a nurse moves over state lines, he or she will need a new license in order to practice his or her profession. It is important to understand how holding multiple licenses will impact a person in the event that a disciplinary action occurs.

Licenses Do Not Go Away

Nurses may hold a variety of licenses over the course of their careers. At different stages, they may have worked as a registered nurse, then a nurse practitioner, or held another type of license. Nurses may also move across state lines and hold licenses in more than one state. When a nurse changes her license, or leaves the state and is licensed in a new state, the old license does not just fade into non-existence. Even once a nurse has stopped applying to renew a license, the state agency that granted the license will continue to hold jurisdiction over that professional. While allowing a license to lapse will mean that the nurse is no longer able to practice in that location or capacity, the body that issued that license may still discipline that individual at any point in time. This remains true even decades after the nurse dropped the license.

Reciprocal License and Disciplinary Actions

Nurses who have or had licenses in another state are subject to the laws and rules defined by that state’s board. Violating one of those laws can cause a nurse to face disciplinary actions, and those actions will follow the nurse from state to state. If a nurse were to have his or her license suspended in one state and then move to a neighboring state, the new state could also penalize the nurse for the events that happened in the other jurisdiction.

To make matters even more complicated, many states consider the failure to notify a licensing agency about a disciplinary action in another jurisdiction is considered “unprofessional conduct.” Nurses may, therefore, be required to contact multiple agencies, including ones the individual has not been involved with for many years, to report a disciplinary action. This could remain true even if the violation was not against all of the agencies’ rules. Clearly, when nurses are registered in multiple jurisdictions, disciplinary actions may become incredibly complicated.

Addressing Accusations and Defending Against False Claims

There are a number of ways in which nurses lose their licenses or face disciplinary actions. In some instances, the violations are professionally-related, such as when a nurse may fail to maintain charts properly or is accused of negligence in his or her treatment of patients. In other cases, criminal charges that occurred outside of the nurse’s job may impact his or her license. This could include DUI charges or drug-related charges. Unfortunately, addiction is another major issue with nurses, and this can lead to professional complications. Drug diversion, in which nurses mishandle controlled substances, is another offense that is commonly brought up in disciplinary cases.

Each state will address these charges or accusations based on the laws in that jurisdiction. By failing to address the charges, or failing to defend against them, a nurse may complicate his or her future licensing in other jurisdictions. While it may sometimes seem less burdensome for a nurse to make a deal or agreement rather than fighting false allegations, the results of these actions may be extremely complicated.

If you are licensed in multiple states, or have prior licenses, and have faced disciplinary actions in any of those locations, you should speak to a licensing attorney. Contact the seasoned Kansas Professional Licensing Defense Attorney Sanger Law today at (785)-979-4353 to discuss your case.