A New England nurse faced both disciplinary action and criminal charges after being accused of drug theft. He pled guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2025. As of January 2024, the state nursing board has suspended his nursing license.

Actions that compromise patient safety are highly likely to result in severe disciplinary action. Nurses have a duty of care to their patients, and it's important that the general public trust nurses.

Accusations aren't automatically true. Neither are criminal charges. All nurses have a right to defend themselves.

The Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help nurses who are facing disciplinary action. We help our clients protect their licenses and careers. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.

Patient Endangerment

In 2022, Sean Falzarano, a nurse in Connecticut, stole a vial of a medication used to treat anxiety and siphoned some out of another vial. For the second vial, he replaced the missing drug with an inert substance.

Falzarano subsequently pled guilty in federal court to the following criminal charges:

• Tampering with a consumer product
• Acquiring a controlled substance through misrepresentation

Prison time is a potential penalty for both convictions. Connecticut has suspended his nursing license.

How Criminal Convictions Affect Nursing Licenses

When speaking about the Falzarano case, officials highlighted how his actions violated the public trust. He also potentially risked patient safety.

While it depends on where the misconduct occurs and the type of crime, misconduct that relates to patient safety is more likely to result in more severe disciplinary action. Misdemeanors that relate to patient safety, for example, are more likely to result in disciplinary action.

Disciplinary action by a state nursing board is a separate process from a criminal charge. Criminal charges and disciplinary action don't automatically go hand-in-hand. A nurse may have criminal charges dismissed but still face disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or revocation of their nursing license.

How a nurse can switch a license from suspended to active depends on the terms of their suspension. A license may be suspended for a set period of time. Reinstatement may depend on a nurse satisfying certain terms or completing training courses.

This is why it's important to be proactive during the entire disciplinary process. There's no automatic or set disciplinary action, and the case a nurse builds can affect any action taken against them. This includes the length and terms of a suspension. The Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm helps our clients assemble evidence and explain their version of events.

Protect Your Career

When a nurse is facing criminal charges, they need someone who can help them protect their nursing license. Disciplinary actions by state boards are different than criminal charges.

If you're facing disciplinary action, the Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you. We assist our clients with navigating the disciplinary process and minimizing damage to their careers. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.