Nurses and certified nursing assistants are charged with caring for the community's most vulnerable members. Being a nurse or certified nursing assistant does not always come with great respect, salary, or benefits. Occasionally, against their better judgment, nurses and certified nursing assistants find themselves in a position where they feel it is necessary to steal from patients or their patient's families. If you are a nurse or certified nursing assistant who has committed theft against a patient, former patient, or their family, the Lento Law Firm can help. We understand that your intention was never to hurt anyone, and you must have been in a challenging situation to end up here. Our Professional License Defense Team will do everything in our power to give you a second chance and fight for you and your license in front of your state's regulatory board. Call us at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.

Washington State Woman Steals from Dead Patient

A Washington State certified nursing assistant, Jennifer Wenski, has had her license suspended after she was caught assuming her dead patient's identity and siphoning her funds. As soon as her patient passed away, Wenski began using her deceased patient's debit card and Electronic Benefits Transfer card for her own personal use. Ultimately, Wenski was caught using surveillance videos and digital and paper receipts that showed her using her former patient's debit card for multiple personal purchases. Wenski managed to steal roughly $20,000 through debit card ATM withdrawals and purchases before bank authorities were notified and the account was frozen.

Consequences of Identity Theft and Stealing from a Patient

All state nursing licensing boards have strict prohibitions on stealing from patients. Under Washington-certified nursing assistant regulations, the Board of Nursing cannot reinstate her suspended license for at least three years based on her identity theft licensure violation. Anytime a nurse or certified nursing assistant steals from a patient or a patient's family, they risk suspending or permanently losing their license. The individual can also anticipate they will be terminated from their current employment, and with a suspension, it can be incredibly difficult to find work again with this negative record.

In some states, including Wenski's home state of Washington, identity theft is a form of misconduct that can disqualify a person from licensure in a position where they would have unsupervised access to adults or minors. This is particularly concerning for nurses and healthcare providers who are seeking employment in a home-care setting.

Retain the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team Today

You worked too hard to become a nurse to let your career be shattered over a mistake. It may feel like there is no way out of your current situation, but the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team has assisted countless nurses facing disciplinary action for theft in situations just like yours. The Lento Law Firm attorney will work tirelessly to preserve your professional license to uphold your rights, reputation, and livelihood. Let us help you; call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.