Kansas Professional Licensing Defense Attorney Recent Examples of License Revocations by Missouri State Board of Nursing

There are many reasons that nurses can have their license threatened, but the grounds usually involve standard of care issues, substance abuse, and/or criminal convictions.  We have discussed these types of scenarios in a hypothetical sense in past blog posts.  However, sometimes the best way to develop a genuine feel for scenarios that end up resulting in a license suspension or revocation is to look at actual adverse actions taken by a nursing board.  This blog provides an overview of actual recent administrative cases that resulted in the suspension or revocation of a nursing license.  Because there are so many cases involving the theft or misuse of narcotics with similar fact patterns, these cases are not discussed below.

Failing to Respond to a Complaint

A nurse’s license was revoked by the Florida nursing board when she ignored an administrative complaint.  The actions constituted conduct that would merit discipline in Missouri where she was currently practicing.  The nurse contended that she did not oppose or respond to the allegations because she had no plan to return or ever practice nursing again in Florida.  She also contended that she thought the Missouri Board of Nursing would reinvestigate the issues, relieving her of the need to respond to the Florida complaint.

Fraud or Misrepresentations of Licensing

Example 1: During 2011, the facility that employed a nurse discovered that her license had lapsed during a routine license check of employees.  The check, which was performed in 2011, revealed that the nurse’s license on file expired in January 2009.  The nurse submitted a “copy” of a purported “license” that was allegedly issued by the Missouri State Board of Nursing with an expiration date of May 31, 2012.  However, the document was determined to be falsified because the board stopped including dates on licenses on January 1, 2010.  Further, the person named as the Director of the Division of Professional Registration, who signed the document, actually left the agency prior to the date the license was allegedly executed.

Example 2: The licensee voluntarily surrendered her vocational nursing license in Texas.  When re-applying for a practical nursing license in Missouri, the licensee indicated she held a license in Louisiana with no disciplinary actions against the license but failed to disclose the Texas license and discipline.

Failing to Call NTS or Provide Samples for Drug Testing

There are many license suspensions and revocations based on the failure to call into the NTS in a timely manner and failing to provide a urine sample for screening when designated to provide such an exemplar.  The failure to comply with probation terms after an initial disciplinary matter constitutes the largest number of actual cases of license revocation in Missouri.

Criminal Convictions

Example 1: The Licensed Practical Nurse pled guilty to a misdemeanor for passing a bad check and was convicted based on the entry of two separate guilty pleas on separate occasions within a seven month period.  The criminal convictions came to light when the nurse failed to comply with a hospital policy requiring two nurses to sign off on the delivery of narcotics.  The nurse also charted the administration of hydrocodone on multiple occasions before the prescribed period of time had elapsed without a 2nd nurse’s signature.

Example 2: When her original application for a license was submitted, the nurse failed to disclose that her license had previously been revoked for a criminal conviction. After her license lapsed which necessitated an application for renewal.  The renewal was granted based on misrepresentations and fraud.  Her license was eventually revoked after NURSYS submitted a complaint because of her previous out-of-state convictions for possession of a controlled substance and carrying a concealed weapon.

Example 3: The respondent was accused of using the social security number and identification information of three patients.  One of the patients reported that the nurse used the information of a deceased relative to open a cell phone account.  The nurse’s license was revoked after the nurse was convicted of the Identity Theft, which constitutes a Class C Felony.

These are just a handful of examples of license revocations recently issued in Missouri.  If you have questions about your specific situation, we invite you to contact us for a confidential initial consultation.  If your nursing license is in jeopardy, Professional Licensing Attorney Danielle Sanger is prepared to investigate the allegations against you and aggressively pursue available defenses to protect your nursing license.  If you are facing a complaint in front of the Kansas State Board or Nursing or Missouri State Board of Nursing, Kansas Professional Licensing Defense Attorney Danielle Sanger represents nurses facing disciplinary proceedings, so call us today for a free consultation at 785-979-4353.

 

 

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