Nurse License Defense by Metro Area – New Haven–Hartford–Waterbury, CT

The Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing (or simply “the Board”) has the legal authority to issue nursing licenses in the state. The Board can also take disciplinary action against a nurse's license for violations of the Connecticut Nurse Practice Act (NPA).

Are you a Connecticut nurse facing potential Board disciplinary action in Greater Hartford? From New Haven to Norwich, attorneys with our Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm are available to offer the representation you deserve in these circumstances. Learn more about our Greater Hartford nurse license defense services by submitting your information via our online contact form or by calling our offices at 888-535-3686.

Why Might a Greater Hartford Nurse Need License Defense Services?

There are various reasons a nurse may face licensing issues in Connecticut. The NPA authorizes the Board to take disciplinary action when a nurse engages in “conduct which fails to conform to the accepted standards of the nursing profession.”

The following are common examples of conduct that might trigger a Board investigation:

  • Fraud or deception for the purposes of securing a nursing license
  • Illegal conduct or negligent treatment
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Falsifying records

That's not necessarily a complete list. If the Board has informed you that it's considering disciplinary action, it's very important to understand the specific nature of the allegations.

This highlights just one of the many ways the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can assist you now. Whether you're a nurse working for a major healthcare facility like Hartford Hospital or you work out of a smaller clinic in one of Greater Hartford's suburbs, we're available to review your case and help you understand the charges.

Forms of Disciplinary Action the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing Can Take Against a Greater Hartford Nurse's License

The Board can consider multiple forms of disciplinary action when a Greater Hartford nurse has committed a violation. Forms of disciplinary action the Board may consider in your case include:

  • Revoking your nursing license
  • Suspending your nursing license
  • Censuring you
  • Issuing a letter of reprimand, which is essentially a formal warning that gets attached to your nursing record
  • Limiting your license so that you may only engage in nursing activities the Board approves of
  • Assessing a civil penalty of up to $25,000
  • Requiring you to pay restitution to an injured property owner
  • Placing you on probation

If the Board places a nurse on probation, the Board may require said nurse to:

  • Regularly report to the Board for evaluation/discussion of the matters that prompted disciplinary action in the first place.
  • Limit their practice so that they only perform nursing tasks and offer nursing services the Board approves of.
  • Participate in continuing education until a nurse has satisfactorily addressed a competency or skill issue.

The next section of this overview will address the general disciplinary process a nurse may face when the Board launches an investigation. Usually, the Board can't take action against a nurse's license until a proper investigation has been conducted and a nurse has been afforded due process.

That said, there are exceptions. Per the NPA, the Board can summarily take any of the forms of disciplinary action listed above in certain circumstances, like if a nurse has been convicted of a felony.

Disciplinary action against a nurse's license can have significant implications for their career. It's very important to protect yourself during an investigation with help from professionals who have experience handling cases like yours. That's exactly what you'll find at the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team, offering Greater Hartford nursing license defense services to clients in Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, and the surrounding areas.

The Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing Disciplinary Process in Greater Hartford

The specific details of a Board investigation and the overall disciplinary process can vary somewhat on a case-by-case basis. For example, the start of an investigation may vary based on whether a nurse self-reported an issue prompting a Board investigation or whether the Board received a complaint from another party.

Generally, though, the process involves these steps:

  • Investigation: It may be necessary to conduct an investigation to gather information about a case before determining whether proceeding with disciplinary action is warranted.
  • Informal conference: In some cases, the Board asks a nurse to participate in a conference to discuss the matter and potentially provide their side of the story. If the Board requests that you participate in such a conference, review the request with your attorneys first. Complying with Board requests can sometimes be the best course of action. However, it's typically not advisable to participate in a conference or interview without a lawyer present.
  • Pre-hearing resolution: After an informal conference (if one was even held), the Board may decide whether to pursue disciplinary action. Sometimes, the Board will contact a nurse offering a pre-hearing resolution. This is also something a nurse can request by contacting the Benefit Center. A pre-hearing resolution is similar to a plea bargain in a criminal case, with a nurse agreeing to admit to certain forms of alleged unprofessional conduct in exchange for more lenient treatment than they might otherwise receive. Your lawyer can help by reviewing a deal and determining whether it's fair. Or, if you'd like to request a pre-hearing resolution, our attorneys can help you present a case showing why this is reasonable, given the circumstances.
  • Adjudicatory hearing: You have the right to a hearing if you don't agree to a pre-hearing resolution. During a hearing, you may present your side of the story, present evidence, and cross-examine witnesses. It's vital to have legal representation during a hearing.
  • Decision: The Board will review all the information it has received upon the conclusion of a hearing. The Board will then enter a decision regarding whether to take disciplinary action and what type of disciplinary action to take if so. If the Board does opt to take disciplinary action, it must provide a nurse with an explanation of its reasoning.

Be aware that the Board disciplinary process can differ substantially from the legal process in a criminal case. Remember this when choosing a lawyer to represent you. A criminal defense attorney may not be qualified to offer the services you need because they lack experience handling cases like yours.

That's not something to worry about when you hire our Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm. Our attorneys will ensure you get the unique legal services a case like yours requires.

Appealing the Board's Decision When it Takes Disciplinary Action: A Guide for Greater Hartford Nurses

You don't have to accept the Board's decision if it takes disciplinary action you believe is unwarranted. Within 15 days of the Board mailing you its official decision, you can submit a request for reconsideration. This involves asking the Hearing Officer to reconsider the Board's final decision based on factors that may be relevant.

Reasons to grant a reconsideration are:

  • An error of fact or law occurred during the hearing.
  • New evidence has been discovered that could yield a different result.
  • The Hearing Officer has determined there is another reasonable cause to grant a reconsideration.

Once you file a request for a reconsideration, the Hearing Officer has 25 days to respond. You can appeal the case with the Supreme Court if your reconsideration is still denied. You must do so within 45 days of the denial. Or, you can skip the request for reconsideration, contacting the Supreme Court directly as your first means of appealing a Board decision.

Our Professional License Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you better determine whether submitting a request for reconsideration or going straight to the Supreme Court are options worth considering. If you do wish to appeal a decision, we can gather evidence and submit your request properly.

Greater Hartford Licensing Issues Can Affect a Nurse Outside of Connecticut

Maybe you're facing licensing issues but aren't worried about their impact on your career. Perhaps you plan on moving soon anyway and thus aren't very concerned about losing the privilege to practice nursing in Connecticut. You can simply get licensed in the new state you move to, right?

Not exactly. First, many nursing boards across the country require applicants to provide information about past disciplinary actions they've been subject to. Even in another state, a nurse moving from Greater Hartford may have to inform their new state's licensing board that the Board in Connecticut has taken disciplinary action. The board in their new state may decide not to issue a license based on this information.

In addition, Connecticut is one of many states participating in the Nursys system. This interstate system offers some real benefits to nurses. Allowing nursing boards to share information and records simplifies the process of getting licensed in a new state for a nurse.

However, this convenience comes with a cost for a nurse who's been disciplined. The Nursys system ensures that boards in other participating states will have easy access to information about the disciplinary action that has been taken against a nurse's license in another Nursys state.

In other words, it's essential that you take these matters seriously, even if you don't think they're important because you plan on moving away from Connecticut. Disciplinary action the Board takes here can affect your employment elsewhere. Guard against this by enlisting the help of the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team serving Greater Hartford when you're facing Board action.

How Our Greater Hartford Nursing License Defense Team Can Assist You

Our team represents all types of Greater Hartford nurses from virtually all communities and employers in the region. We can handle your case if you're a nurse at a major Greater Hartford medical center like Yale New Haven Hospital, Hartford Hospital, New Haven Medical Center, or Waterbury Hospital.

Or, we can assist you if your employer runs a smaller facility in Greater Hartford suburbs like Farmington, New Britain, Meriden, Hamden, Cheshire, and more.

The exact way in which we defend you will depend on the nature of the charges you face. We generally assist clients facing Board disciplinary action by:

  • Reviewing their cases thoroughly to ensure both they and our team understand the charges
  • Speaking on a client's behalf during interviews, hearings, and all other correspondence with the Board so that a client doesn't risk accidentally damaging their own case
  • Gathering evidence and conducting our own investigation into a case if necessary
  • Helping a client evaluate their options, making it easier to decide whether to accept a pre-hearing resolution, whether to request a reconsideration, etc.
  • Ensuring a client thoroughly understands the Board's final decision to guard against non-compliance
  • Presenting mitigating factors during pre-hearing resolution discussions to indicate why the disciplinary action the Board takes should be lenient
  • Protecting a client's rights and speaking up on their behalf if their rights appear to be violated at any stage of the process

We also offer peace of mind. It can be very stressful for a nurse who has worked so hard for their career to face disciplinary action that could limit their ability to continue practicing nursing. Offering nurse license defense services in and around Greater Hartford, our Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm will take over your case when you hire us, allowing you to relax in the knowledge that qualified professionals are representing you.

Contact the Lento Law Firm for Help With a Greater Hartford Nursing License Defense Case

It doesn't matter what specific reason the Board may have for taking disciplinary action against your license: When you learn the Board is considering such action, one of the most important steps you can take is to get in touch with professionals who have experience handling cases like this in Greater Hartford.

At the Lento Law Firm, our Professional License Defense Team specifically works with clients facing licensing issues because of alleged misconduct or similar reasons. Find out what we can do for you by calling us at 888-535-3686 or submitting your information through our online contact form.

CONTACT US TODAY

Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm are committed to answering your questions about Physician License Defense, Nursing License Defense, Pharmacist License Defense, Psychologist and Psychiatrist License Defense, Dental License Defense, Chiropractic License Defense, Real Estate License Defense, Professional Counseling License Defense, and Other Professional Licenses law issues nationwide.
The Lento Law Firm will gladly discuss your case with you at your convenience. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

Menu