As a licensed practical nurse (LPN), nothing is more valuable to your professional prospects than your LPN license. Should you lose your LPN license, you could lose your livelihood and the career you've worked so hard to build. At the Lento Law Firm, we're committed to helping LPNs in Georgia defend themselves against license suspension or revocation by the Georgia State Board of Nursing. When you call us at 888.535.3686 or contact us online to schedule a meeting, we will urgently provide assistance and help you safeguard your legal rights.
You are not alone in this battle to save your GA LPN license. There's no time to waste – contact the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team now to arrange a consultation.
Georgia State Board of Nursing
The Georgia State Board of Nursing is responsible for monitoring, licensing, and disciplining nurses across GA.
- LPNs must comply with the relevant provisions of the Georgia Nurse Practice Act and Georgia's administrative rules for nursing conduct in the state.
- The Board has the authority to investigate any complaint made by a colleague, patient, Board member, or member of the public that suggests that an LPN has fallen short of the standards of conduct required of them.
- The Board takes its role as a guardian of public health seriously. Do not make the mistake of assuming that the Board members are your friends or on your side when it comes to disciplinary action.
The Board has significant jurisdiction over LPNs and can impose a wide range of penalties, including fines, mandatory drug, alcohol, or psychiatric counseling, probation, restricted duties, and license suspension or revocation.
The Board may suspend your license temporarily pending further investigation if the allegations are especially serious. As your attorneys, we will assist you immediately if you're dealing with an interim license suspension as an LPN in GA.
Common Grounds for Investigating LPNs in Georgia
There are many reasons why individuals may make complaints against LPNs in Georgia. Some are, of course, superfluous, but others may have more merit. The Board will investigate allegations which could be deemed misconduct, including:
- Failing to exercise due care or professional judgment
- Failing to protect a patient's welfare or deliberately exposing them to harm
- Knowingly or willingly, neglecting a patient's welfare or basic needs
- Breaching confidentiality rules, e.g., HIPAA violations and related disclosures
- Assuming responsibilities or performing tasks beyond their professional skills or permitted remit
- Failing to maintain safe and orderly patient records
- Breaching professional boundaries with patients or behaving in a way that may be deemed unprofessional
- Testing positive for drugs, including prescription drugs, when they do not have a prescription for the same
- Being convicted of a felony or other related crimes of moral turpitude
A Board action against any LPN in GA begins with the initial complaint. Once the Board receives a complaint, the disciplinary process begins.
Stages of the Georgia State Board of Nursing Disciplinary Process
Every Georgia State Board of Nursing disciplinary action is different, but each moves through similar stages. While your exact case will be more nuanced, the main stages are as follows.
- Initial investigation undertaken by Board investigators. You will be notified in writing that investigations are underway.
- Should the Board determine that a violation may have occurred, they will either propose a consent agreement or, if the allegations are especially serious, bypass any attempts to negotiate an informal settlement and proceed immediately to a formal administrative hearing.
- Consent agreements mean you accept the accusations and admit to wrongdoing in exchange for a “lighter” punishment. It's unlikely that your license will be revoked. However, you are admitting to wrongdoing, which will impact your disciplinary record, so you should not sign an agreement without consulting us first.
- Should you deny the accusations, or if the Board's proposed punishment is disproportionate or unfair, you can proceed to a court hearing. This hearing is administrative rather than criminal in nature, but it is still formal and involves presenting evidence and examining witnesses.
- The judge will decide based on the evidence presented. It may be possible to appeal the judge's decision – more on this below.
Possible Outcomes of the LPN Disciplinary Process in GA
Should the judge rule against you at the administrative hearing, or should you sign a consent agreement, the penalties you face include:
- Fines
- Restricted duties
- Probation
- Formal reprimands
- Mandatory counseling
- License suspension
- License revocation
It may be possible to seek LPN license reinstatement in the future. However, reinstatement is entirely at the Board's discretion, and there's every possibility that they will deny your petition for reinstatement. Your best chance of successfully reinstating a suspended (or even revoked) LPN license in GA is calling the Lento Law Firm now to discuss your options.
The Consequences of LPN License Revocation in Georgia
There are many consequences to losing your LPN license, even temporarily. And these consequences go beyond financial penalties, probation, or mandatory counseling.
- Georgia is a Nurse Compact State. Losing your LPN license in Georgia means you cannot practice as an LPN in any other Compact state. This significantly hinders your ability to pursue your career.
- Disciplinary findings against you form part of your permanent nursing disciplinary record. These findings are publicly available, meaning that anyone searching for your license details can ascertain that your LPN license was suspended or revoked.
- Losing your LPN license could affect your livelihood. If you can't find a job role with equivalent income, you may be unable to afford your home or support your family.
- A license suspension or revocation does, unfortunately, attract stigma. You may lose confidence around your peers and feel judged by your colleagues.
The best outcome is always to successfully preserve your license rather than attempt to appeal a suspension or revocation. However, let's consider when you might appeal such a decision.
Appealing LPN License Suspension or Revocation
Should the administrative judge decide that license suspension or revocation is a suitable penalty, you may have grounds to appeal their decision. You can appeal to the superior court in your county. The decision may be reversed, meaning different (lesser) penalties will apply, or the decision will be affirmed, meaning that license suspension or revocation stands.
Depending on the outcome, you may have further appeal options, but this very much depends on the precise nature of the accusations and the grounds upon which you make an appeal.
It's not possible to guarantee that an appeal will be successful. Typically, you need specific grounds to make a compelling appeal, such as
- The judge erred in applying the laws as they relate to your case.
- There was a failure to properly consider all the available evidence.
- The judge or the board failed to adhere to due process or other procedural rules.
- The penalty is manifestly disproportionate based on the circumstances of your case.
Appeals are, unfortunately, never simply an opportunity to revisit the same evidence with the hope of securing a more favorable outcome. You must have sufficient grounds to seek a formal review. When you retain us, we can explain your options for proceeding.
Do You Need an Attorney to Defend an LPN License in Georgia?
We understand that you may be tempted to handle your own LPN license defense. You might believe it's best to manage your own negotiations in the hope that the issue is resolved quickly. However, there are many reasons why it's ill-advised to defend your own LPN license.
- There's no presumption of “innocent until proven guilty” in your favor during Board investigations. This is because you're not facing criminal charges. As such, the Board is not obliged to assume that you are innocent until proven otherwise. Given their role as protectors of public health in GA, they will not hesitate to discipline you – sometimes disproportionately – and you need counsel who will defend you against such action.
- You are under serious amounts of stress when your professional career is in jeopardy. By hiring an attorney, you can focus on trying to remain positive and calm and finding ways to move forward rather than worrying about building your own legal case.
- The GA State Board of Nursing disciplines LPNs regularly. They know the laws and regulations inside out and have significant state resources at their disposal. You are at a notable disadvantage when handling Board investigations if you do not have a knowledgeable attorney on your side.
When you hire us, you're not just hiring experienced professional licensed defense attorneys. You are hiring lawyers who truly care about preserving your license. We know that time is of the essence, too. We'll move quickly and efficiently to negotiate the best possible outcome for your case.
How the Lento Law Firm Can Help
When you hire the Lento Law Firm, we will work tirelessly to help you retain your LPN license. You can expect the following from every member of our Professional License Defense Team:
- Clear and thorough explanation of the strengths and challenges of your case, and the options for proceeding. You will feel empowered to make the right decision for your professional and personal goals.
- Comprehensive evaluation of how GA nursing laws and regulations affect your case and how we might overcome difficulties. No case is perfect, and it's important to explore every avenue for strengthening your case.
- Diligent approach to handling Board negotiations. Our attorneys understand the nuances involved in managing such discussions, and they will use their considerable knowledge and experience to your advantage.
- Rigorous and effective defense strategies should the case proceed to a formal hearing. We will be your best advocates before the Board. Whether we're seeking dismissal or mitigation, we will be wholly committed to securing the best possible outcome.
- Unwavering support and guidance if you wish to appeal a Board decision. Should you have grounds to appeal license suspension or revocation, we are here to help you pursue them and fight to defend your LPN license.
- Compassionate attorneys who are on hand to answer your questions and provide as much reassurance as we can in the circumstances. While we can't guarantee success, we can ensure that you never feel alone or unsupported throughout this challenging time.
Has your LPN license already been revoked or suspended? We understand that you may feel overwhelmed and disheartened but don't give up without a fight. As your counsel, we'll help you explore your options, including the appeals process, so you can determine how best to move forward.
Nationwide Law Firm Defending LPNs Across GA
As a leading nationwide law firm, the Lento Law Firm represents healthcare professionals, including LPNs, across the entire country. We're perfectly placed to defend any Georgia-based licensed practical nurse, no matter what you stand accused of. We can represent health professionals in every major GA health facility, including:
- Atrium Health Navicent Medical Center
- Emory University Hospital
- Grady Memorial Hospital
- Northeast Georgia Medical Center
- Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
- Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
Whether you're based in a specialist clinic, major hospital, or nursing home, the Lento Law Firm Team will assist. We know what it takes to negotiate with board officials in any healthcare setting – when you retain us, we'll devise a strategy to maximize your chances of a favorable outcome.
Fight for Your Future with the Lento Law Firm on Your Side
Are you an LPN facing license suspension or revocation in GA? The Georgia State Board of Nursing won't hesitate to act against you. There's no time to lose. That's why, when you retain our Professional License Defense Team, we'll get to work immediately on your behalf. Whether it's negotiating a mitigated penalty or seeking to have the complaint dismissed entirely, we're here to walk with you every step of the way. And we'll do whatever we can to help you protect the nurse license – and career – you've worked so hard to achieve.
Call us at 888.535.3686 or leave us a message online. Take that first step today, and know that you're doing everything in your power to defend your nursing license.
