Nurses across the Greater Lansing region know how vital their license is to everything they do—without it, your career, reputation, and livelihood are all at stake. In Michigan, the Board of Nursing, under the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), oversees licensing and can take swift disciplinary action if there's an allegation of wrongdoing.
Has someone filed a complaint about your conduct as a nurse in Lansing, East Lansing, or Owosso? Do you have to answer to the Board because of a claim of negligence, documentation mistakes, or possible misconduct?
If you find yourself in this stressful situation, the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team is ready to step in and protect your interests. We proudly help nurses not just in Lansing but throughout surrounding communities like Okemos, Holt, DeWitt, and more.
Take the first step to safeguard your nursing license today—reach out through our online form or call us directly at 888-535-3686.
Why You May Need Nurse License Defense Services in the Greater Lansing Area
In Michigan, the Board of Nursing under LARA has the power to take action when a nurse is accused of unprofessional or unethical behavior. Nurses working in Lansing, East Lansing, Owosso, or surrounding mid-Michigan communities risk disciplinary consequences if the Board determines they violated state laws or professional standards of care.
Forms of unprofessional conduct that can trigger disciplinary measures for nurses here include:
- Willfully or recklessly ignoring Michigan's rules, regulations, or standards that apply to licensed nursing practice.
- Using a position of trust to improperly influence a patient for personal or financial gain.
- Receiving or arranging to receive a fee or kickback in return for referring a patient to another healthcare provider.
- Offering any type of referral fee to others for patient business.
- Allowing unauthorized individuals to share in the fees earned for providing nursing services.
- Engaging in behavior during patient care that shows moral unfitness to hold a nursing license.
- Knowingly submitting false reports, failing to file reports as required by law, or blocking others from filing legally mandated reports.
- Refusing to hand over medical records or related documents when a patient properly requests access.
- Disclosing confidential patient information without proper consent when that information was gained through professional duties.
- Practicing nursing or offering services beyond the legal scope defined for a Michigan nurse.
- Taking on nursing responsibilities despite lacking the legal authority, training, or certification to do so.
- Assigning professional tasks to someone who is not qualified or legally permitted to handle them.
- Performing nursing services without the informed consent of the patient or their authorized representative.
- Engaging in misleading or unethical advertising or solicitation that the law considers harmful to the public interest.
- Failing to provide required records within thirty days when requested during an investigation by the Board, LARA, or the Department of Health.
- Breaking any conditions of probation or violating any restrictions that have been placed on the nurse's license.
Keep in mind, these examples cover general grounds for disciplinary action under Michigan law, but nurses and nurse practitioners in the Lansing area may also face additional rules specific to their profession. Even a small misstep can jeopardize your ability to practice and serve your community.
Other Types of Unprofessional Conduct for Nurse Practitioners in the Greater Lansing Area
Michigan law outlines strict conditions that nurse practitioners must follow when handling immunizations. If you're a nurse practitioner working anywhere in the Greater Lansing region, failing to stick to these rules can put your license in jeopardy.
One misstep with immunization practices can lead to disciplinary action from the Michigan Board of Nursing. This can happen if either of these applies:
- The immunization product being given is past its labeled expiration date.
- The vaccine or immunization agent has not been stored according to proper guidelines.
Beyond vaccination standards, Michigan also has clear rules describing how nurse practitioners must work in collaboration with physicians and other health care providers when diagnosing and treating patients.
Ignoring or violating these collaboration rules is another way a nurse practitioner could find themselves defending their license before the Board.
Additional Professional Misconduct That Can Impact a Nurse's License in the Greater Lansing Area
Aside from unprofessional conduct, Michigan law also recognizes various forms of professional misconduct that can threaten a nurse's license and career. Nurses working in Lansing and nearby towns must be aware that these violations can quickly lead to formal action by the Board of Nursing.
In Michigan, professional misconduct includes:
- Obtaining a nursing license through false or misleading information.
- Using fraud to carry out nursing duties.
- Performing nursing tasks outside the legally allowed scope of practice.
- Displaying gross incompetence while caring for patients.
- Committing gross negligence at least once while on the job.
- Showing repeated acts of negligence or incompetence over time.
- Practicing while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a mental or physical condition.
- Having a pattern of intoxication or substance abuse issues.
- Being convicted of breaking federal or state laws, even in other states, if similar laws exist.
- Having a record of professional misconduct in another state or jurisdiction.
- Breaching Michigan's public health laws, such as rules on patient admission.
- Having a license suspended, revoked, or disciplined in another state.
- Denying services to someone based on race, religion, or other protected characteristics.
- Committing any type of unprofessional conduct listed previously.
- Ignoring laws about preserving evidence that could be related to sexual assault cases.
- Failing to complete state-required training on infection control, unless an exception applies.
The law also limits how nurses can accept payments or perks in connection with services like diagnostic imaging.
If you find yourself under investigation for any of these reasons, having a clear understanding of the allegations is crucial. At the Lento Law Firm, our Professional License Defense Team assists nurses working at major Lansing-area medical centers like Sparrow Hospital, McLaren Greater Lansing, and MSU Health Care, as well as nurses serving patients in communities like Okemos, Holt, DeWitt, Haslett, and beyond.
We'll help you understand the exact issues behind the Board's investigation and build a defense aimed at protecting your future.
How the Michigan Board Can Discipline Nurses in the Greater Lansing Area
In Michigan, the Board of Nursing under LARA has broad authority when deciding how to handle confirmed cases of misconduct or unprofessional behavior. Nurses working in Lansing, East Lansing, Owosso, and the surrounding region should know what penalties they could face if an investigation doesn't go in their favor.
Possible disciplinary actions for nurses in this area include:
- Receiving an official censure or a formal reprimand on their record.
- Having their license suspended—sometimes for a set time period, or until they complete required treatment or other conditions set by the Board.
- Facing complete revocation of their nursing license.
- Having a license annulled altogether.
- Being limited in their ability to renew a license or to get a new one in the future.
- Being ordered to pay a fine, which can go as high as $10,000.
- Having to complete an additional training course or an approved education program.
- Being required to perform up to 100 hours of public or community service.
When the Board notifies you of possible disciplinary action, it's normal to want to fight the allegations, especially if you feel they're unfair or inaccurate. It's also important to remember that formal penalties aren't the only option the Board might consider.
For example, if substance use is part of the issue, the Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP) here in Michigan offers support and treatment alternatives that can sometimes prevent harsher penalties. Enrolling in such a program can help some nurses get back on track, but it's not always the right choice for everyone.
Before you agree to anything, make sure you understand every requirement involved. This is one of many areas where the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team can help. We can guide you through your options, negotiate alternatives, and stand up for you through every stage of the Board's investigation.
What to Expect During a Board Investigation in the Greater Lansing Area
No two disciplinary matters are exactly the same. However, Michigan law lays out a fairly standard path for how the Board of Nursing under LARA handles an investigation into possible misconduct. Here's how things usually unfold:
- Complaint: Anyone with relevant knowledge—patients, coworkers, or even employers—can file a complaint against a nurse with the Board or LARA if they suspect wrongdoing.
- Investigation: If the initial review shows there might be a violation, the Board will move forward with an investigation and formally draft charges. Investigators can ask the nurse to supply documents, answer questions, or attend interviews. Responding properly and on time is crucial; when you have the Lento Law Firm on your side, we handle these requests for you to avoid costly mistakes.
- Negotiation or warnings: Sometimes, it's possible to negotiate an agreed-upon outcome where the nurse accepts responsibility for a lesser violation and agrees to an appropriate consequence. For minor issues, the Board might instead issue a written warning or caution without further punishment.
- Hearing: If you disagree with the charges, you have the right to a hearing where both sides present evidence and arguments. Hearings allow you to tell your side of the story, but also give the Board an opportunity to prove its allegations.
Having skilled representation during every stage—especially a formal hearing—can make a huge difference. Nurses working in Lansing, East Lansing, Owosso, and neighboring areas count on the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team to protect their rights and help avoid pitfalls throughout the investigation process.
How the Lento Law Firm Supports Nurses in the Greater Lansing Area
Whether you work the busy floors at Sparrow Hospital, care for patients at McLaren Greater Lansing, or serve families in smaller clinics throughout Holt, Okemos, or DeWitt—if your nursing license is under threat in the Greater Lansing area, the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team is ready to stand by you.
Here's what we do for nurses in your shoes:
- Go over every detail of your situation and help you understand the accusations and possible outcomes the Michigan Board of Nursing might pursue.
- Take care of all communication with the Board and represent you at any required interviews, hearings, or meetings while your case moves forward.
- Highlight important mitigating details—like your clean professional history or commitment to continuing education—that show why harsh penalties may be unwarranted.
- Examine the Board's case for weaknesses, errors, or gaps in the evidence that can strengthen your defense.
- Make sure you meet every Board request or deadline promptly, so no added violations complicate your situation.
We know every nurse's situation is different, which is why our approach is always personal and discreet. When you hire the Lento Law Firm, you get clear answers, honest advice, and quick action—so you're never left wondering what comes next. Many of our clients appreciate that we handle sensitive license issues with complete confidentiality, protecting your professional reputation within your workplace and the wider Lansing medical community. From the first consultation to the final resolution, our focus stays on you, your license, and your career.
These are some general ways we defend nurses, but how we build your case will be tailored to your unique facts. The sooner you connect with our team, the sooner we can put a solid plan in place.
Reach Out to the Lento Law Firm for Nursing License Defense in Greater Lansing
It's perfectly normal to feel anxious when you learn the Board is investigating your license. But you don't have to handle it alone.
Trust our Professional License Defense Team to guide you every step of the way so you can keep serving the mid-Michigan community you care about.
Call us at 888-535-3686 or submit your details through our secure online form to get started today.
