Nurses commonly treat victims of domestic abuse and petitioners of protective orders in the hospitals and facilities where they work. Some nurses also become entangled in similar cases of their own—as the defendants. This can lead to multiple devastating consequences, including for nurses in New Hampshire.
Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. With a productive approach and excellent legal assistance, you can overcome protective orders and allegations of domestic abuse. Schedule a consultation with the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team by calling their offices at 888.535.3686 or filling out this contact form.
What the New Hampshire Board of Nursing Does with Protective Orders and Domestic Abuse Charges
Good news—the New Hampshire Board of Nursing won't immediately or automatically know if there's a protective order or domestic abuse charge against you. However, that doesn't mean they can't find out. You should prepare yourself for them to confront you about the charges in case any of the following occurs:
- Someone who's aware of the protective order and/or the protective order informs the board via an official written complaint.
- You're applying for a nursing license for the first time, need to renew an existing one, or want to throw your hat in the ring for a new job, so the board runs a criminal history background check on you. Unless the charges were filed seven or more years ago and have been dismissed or pending since then, there's a good chance they'll appear in your report.
- You decide to preemptively report the charges to the board yourself to get ahead of any unpleasant surprises and demonstrate your integrity.
Should the New Hampshire Board of Nursing opt to take a closer look at the issue, they'll likely begin following a thoroughly outlined disciplinary process.
First, they'll conduct an investigation to gather evidence like recordings, videos, communications, photographs, records, and other items. They'll probably interview victims, witnesses, and people who are familiar with your character as well. Sometimes, they might also need an opinion from an expert in the relevant subject matter.
While this is happening, the board will send you a copy of the complaint and ask for your response, either by email or regular mail.
Upon completing the investigation and giving you a chance to contact them about it, the board will hold a non-public meeting to evaluate the results. At this point, they might dismiss the complaint, with or without a letter of concern. It's a non-disciplinary document, essentially stating that the evidence isn't enough to prove your culpability, but it is enough to worry the board. The document will warn you to stay out of trouble. Luckily, it's confidential, so no one else will know unless you tell them.
However, if the board decides the evidence points toward a guilty verdict, they'll likely schedule a hearing that will finally determine whether and how they discipline you. These are the possible license sanctions:
Restrictions
You might get to continue practicing nursing as long as you comply with some restrictions. For instance, perhaps the board will limit your scope of practice, preventing you from performing certain tasks, signing up for particular shifts, or working in specific areas, offices, or fields.
Of course, some work is better than none. However, with so many limitations, you may have difficulty developing a positive rapport with your co-workers, who would have to cover what you can't do. You'd also have fewer opportunities to maintain or refine existing skills and learn new ones.
Also, if you have additional obligations or a complex schedule outside work, complying with the restrictions might not be only a challenge, but a burden. It could affect your relationships and free time.
Probation
As with restrictions, probation limits a nurse's scope of practice and work options. However, it may also require another nurse to supervise your work. If substance abuse is a factor in your domestic abuse charges, you might also have to agree to abstain from drugs or alcohol, and your supervisor would likely monitor your commitment. Probation can last for a predetermined period of time or until you satisfy other demands, such as completing a remedial education program.
Complying with the board's demands might be difficult to juggle on top of your other duties, potentially impacting your work performance. Also, many nurses feel uncomfortable with supervision and monitoring, as though it's infantilizing or a violation of their privacy. If that describes you, this sanction is even more important to prevent.
Suspension
Perhaps the board will temporarily bar you from practicing nursing, formally known as a license suspension. It could last for a specific amount of time or until you fulfill a set of requirements for reinstatement, or a combination of the two.
It's nice to know that you could return to work someday, but there are still long-term repercussions of this sanction that you would be better off avoiding. For example, the break in your resume could lead to unpleasant or awkward conversations with prospective employers. The time away could also dull your skills and prevent you from learning new ones, which might affect your job performance and eligibility for promotions.
Revocation
For severe or repeated domestic abuse cases, the board may decide to revoke your license completely. It permanently prevents you from legally working as a nurse anywhere in New Hampshire.
Revocation is usually the most damaging sanction for a nursing career. You can apply for reinstatement, provided you've completed the nursing exam and/or finished 30 hours of continuing education within the last two years. If you've gone 400 hours without nursing in the last four years, you may need to go through a re-entry program.
Either way, the board would likely be stricter in ensuring that you meet the qualifications this time around. Reinstatement can be challenging, so it's better for you to convince the board not to sanction you this way in the first place.
Fines or Civil Penalties
To strongly discourage you from recommitting or escalating the offense, the board might see fit to demand fines or civil penalties from you. They can typically go up to $1,000 per violation.
As sanctions go, fines and civil penalties are among the lightest. Nevertheless, if there are multiple violations, the sum can add up quickly and prove difficult to pay. You'd have less money for your everyday expenses, lifestyle, and continuing education courses, the latter of which could make you ineligible for promotions and/or result in even more sanctions. For the sake of your career and financial comfort, it's crucial to avoid fines or reduce them as much as possible.
Public Reprimand
Openly denouncing your violation is another effective way for the board to dissuade you from reoffending and make their stance known. That's why the board may decide to issue a public reprimand as your punishment.
Like fines and civil penalties, a reprimand is one of the easiest sanctions to handle. Still, the fact that it's public means that future patients and employers can look it up, and it could change how they perceive you. Consequently, you might miss out on great opportunities.
Alternative Recovery Monitoring Program
The New Hampshire Board of Nursing is one of many throughout the country that offers an alternative to disciplinary sanctions. Theirs is called the Alternative Recovery Monitoring Program.
If the domestic abuse or protective order against you has anything to do with substance abuse, the board may require that you enroll in this program and successfully complete it before returning to nursing. Ideally, it would help you not only in criminal court and your personal life, but also at work, where you would need to be physically, mentally, and emotionally sound.
Options for Protecting Your Nursing License in New Hampshire
Defending yourself in a criminal or civil court is different from defending yourself to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing. After all, they can discipline you harshly even if the courts move to dismiss your case or assign you a small penalty.
The Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team is your best bet for helping you retain your license no matter what happens in court. They can collaborate with you on numerous strategies to minimize or eliminate your trouble with the board, including:
Deal Negotiations
Show your willingness to go above and beyond to cooperate with the board's expectations in return for their dismissing your case or reducing the sanctions. Be the first to suggest conditions, requirements, or even extra duties that you can fulfill. This might convince the board that you can be trusted to resist reoffending even with light discipline. Let the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team help you choose and present a negotiation that makes sense for your case.
Voluntarily Entering a Rehab Program
Whether it's the Alternative Recovery Monitoring Program, the New Hampshire Domestic Violence Class, or something similar, consider enrolling without being asked or required by the board. Your initiative could make a positive impression that would persuade the board to believe in your commitment to self-improvement, which may, in turn, inspire leniency. Work with the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team to determine the best program to take.
Appealing the Decision
Despite your best efforts, the board might make a decision that can egregiously harm your career. Fortunately, you can try to remedy the situation with an appeal. The Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can guide you through the process of filing for the appeal and preparing for a new hearing.
Why Hire the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team?
Complaints to a nursing board are vastly different from criminal and civil court cases. You need a legal team that's familiar with the rules, policies, and procedures of board investigations and hearings. Partnering with the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team is one of the best decisions you could make, and this is why.
Unparalleled Prowess
Driven by passion and ambition, the Lento Law Firm holds every attorney to the highest standards. Your team's intricate familiarity with New Hampshire's professional license laws and regulations will be unmatched by most other firms, enabling them to more effectively advocate for you.
Customized Service
Cookie-cutter defenses are not part of the Lento Law Firm's strategy. While they know what methods and arguments tend to be most effective for specific cases, they understand the uniqueness of your situation. Everything that they plan and do will be customized to your needs and the facts of your case.
National Acclaim
The Lento Law Firm isn't guilty of false advertising. That is, they don't just claim to be at the top of their field; it's proven by the respect and the renown recognition they've earned throughout the country. They have law offices serving every state winning cases just like yours. With their track record, you'll know that your license and career are safe in their hands.
Fight for Your Nursing Career in New Hampshire
No matter what problems arise in your personal life, you need a reliable and rewarding career, and the patients throughout New Hampshire deserve the standard of care that you can provide. Never give up on fighting to keep your license intact, and don't hesitate to ask for help. In fact, schedule a consultation with the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team today by calling 888.535.3686 or filling out this contact form to see how they can assist.
