The Impact of Mental Health Evaluations on Your Missouri Nursing License
What Nurses Should Know When the Board Requires a Psychological Assessment
If you are a nurse in Missouri and receive notice that the Missouri State Board of Nursing is requiring you to undergo a mental health or psychological evaluation, the situation can feel intimidating and deeply personal. You may wonder whether your license is in jeopardy—or if the evaluation is a signal that the Board has already assumed you’re unfit to practice.
The truth is, a mental health evaluation does not automatically lead to discipline, but how you approach the process can significantly influence the outcome of your case. At Sanger Law Office, LLC, we represent Missouri nurses in licensing matters, including when mental health concerns become part of an investigation or disciplinary process. This guide explains why evaluations are ordered, how they affect your license, and how legal guidance can protect your career.
Why the Missouri State Board of Nursing Orders Mental Health Evaluations
The Board is authorized under RSMo § 335.066 to investigate and discipline nurses who exhibit behavior that may affect their ability to practice safely. A mental health evaluation is typically ordered when the Board receives a complaint, report, or evidence suggesting that a nurse may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological condition that could impair professional performance.
Common Triggers for a Board-Ordered Evaluation:
- Erratic, inappropriate, or aggressive behavior at work
- Repeated emotional outbursts or difficulty managing stress
- A suicide attempt or recent psychiatric hospitalization
- Arrests involving unusual or concerning conduct
- Allegations of unsafe patient care linked to emotional instability
- Previous disciplinary history combined with new concerns
These evaluations are not meant to punish—they are meant to help the Board determine whether you are safe to continue working as a nurse. However, what you say, how you comply, and the evaluator’s conclusions can have lasting consequences on your license.
What the Evaluation Process Involves
When the Board orders a mental health evaluation, they typically require it to be performed by a Board-approved or Board-selected provider—a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. The evaluation may include:
- A clinical interview
- Standardized mental health or personality assessments (e.g., MMPI-2)
- Review of your medical, psychological, and disciplinary history
- Interviews with references, supervisors, or treating professionals (in some cases)
- A written report submitted directly to the Board
The evaluator will assess whether you have a mental or emotional condition that affects your ability to safely and effectively practice nursing. The findings will be used by the Board to decide whether to dismiss the case, impose discipline, or impose conditions on your license.
How Mental Health Evaluations Can Affect Your License
The outcome of a psychological evaluation can influence your nursing license in several ways:
✅ Clearance with No Restrictions
If the evaluation concludes that you are mentally fit to practice, the Board may close the case without discipline or take no further action.
⚠️ Conditional Probation or Monitoring
If there are concerns about your mental health but no current impairment, the Board may place you on probation with conditions such as therapy, supervision, or periodic reevaluation.
❌ Suspension or Denial of Reinstatement
If the evaluation indicates that your mental health poses a current threat to patient safety, the Board may suspend your license or deny a request to return to practice.
➡️ Referral to the Missouri Alternative Program
If the evaluation reveals substance abuse or a co-occurring mental health issue, the Board may offer you the chance to participate in the Alternative Program, a non-public recovery and monitoring program for nurses.
What You Should Do if the Board Orders an Evaluation
✅ Contact a Nursing License Defense Attorney Immediately
Mental health issues are nuanced. An experienced attorney can help you:
- Understand why the evaluation is being requested
- Ensure you are evaluated by a qualified and unbiased provider
- Prepare you for what to expect during the evaluation
- Review the evaluator’s findings
- Communicate with the Board to advocate for your continued practice
- Submit supporting documentation to show compliance, stability, and rehabilitation
✅ Comply Promptly and Professionally
Refusing to attend or delaying an evaluation can be seen as a lack of cooperation and may lead to disciplinary action—even if no impairment exists.
❌ Do Not Assume the Outcome Is Out of Your Hands
Many nurses mistakenly believe that once an evaluation is ordered, the process is out of their control. But with proper legal preparation, the right medical evidence, and guidance, you can influence how the Board views your case.
How Sanger Law Office, LLC Can Help
Our firm has represented Missouri nurses across a wide range of mental health-related licensing issues. We help clients:
- Respond to complaints that raise questions about emotional or psychological fitness
- Coordinate with licensed mental health professionals who can provide accurate, fair evaluations
- Prepare detailed submissions to the Board that demonstrate stability, treatment, and readiness to practice
- Negotiate terms such as probation instead of suspension
- Represent nurses at Board hearings or when applying for reinstatement after mental health-related discipline
We understand that mental health struggles do not define your career—and we fight to ensure that your dedication to nursing is respected.
Call Sanger Law Office Today!
If you’ve been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation by the Missouri State Board of Nursing, don’t go through the process alone. Your license and future are worth protecting—with the right legal support.
📞 Call Sanger Law Office, LLC today for a free, confidential consultation:
(816) 520-8040 for Missouri
(785) 979-4353 for Kansas
Let us help you protect your license, demonstrate your fitness to practice, and move forward with your career.