Knoxville is already among Tennessee's busiest urban centers. The overall Knoxville metropolitan area, which includes communities ranging from large cities like Knoxville itself to smaller towns like Oak Ridge, Alcoa, and Clinton (to name just a few), represents one of Tennessee's most active and dynamic regions.
Serving as a nurse in the Knoxville metropolitan area gives you the chance to make a difference in the lives of countless Tennesseeans. However, it's important to understand that the Tennessee Nurse Practice Act (NPA) grants the Tennessee Board of Nursing (referred to going forward simply as the Board) the authority to take disciplinary action against the licenses of nurses who violate relevant laws or rules.
Maybe you work out of a major healthcare facility in the region, like the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, and you've been accused of stealing medications or supplies. Or, perhaps you operate out of a smaller clinic in a community like Maryville or Morristown, and the Board is investigating you for alleged negligence that could jeopardize patient safety.
Those are just two examples of circumstances in which your Tennessee nursing license could be subject to disciplinary action. If you're facing Board disciplinary action in the Knoxville metropolitan area, our Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team is on hand to serve your needs. Learn more about how you may benefit from our Tennessee nursing license defense services by submitting your information via our online contact form or by calling our offices today at 888-535-3686.
Reasons a Nurse May Need License Defense Services in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area
The Tennessee NPA grants the Board the authority to take disciplinary action against a nurse's license in the Knoxville metropolitan area if they engage in unprofessional conduct. Specific forms of unprofessional conduct that can result in a nurse's incense being subject to Board disciplinary action are:
- Intentionally causing (or attempting to cause) physical or emotional injury to a patient
- Negligently causing physical or emotional injury to a patient
- Failing to maintain proper records for each patient that accurately reflect each patient's nursing problems and the interventions that have been taken
- Failing to maintain proper records for each patient that accurately indicate which nurse is responsible for providing care to said patient.
- Abandoning or neglecting a patient (such as leaving a nursing assignment without alerting another nurse to ensure continuance of care)
- Making false, inconsistent, materially incorrect, or illegible entries in patient records or in other relevant records pertaining to obtaining/possessing/administering controlled substances
- Using or removing narcotics, drugs, medical equipment, or supplies from a workplace without proper authorization
- Using an intoxicating beverage or illegally using a narcotic or dangerous drug while on call or on duty.
- Being under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs that can impair judgment when one is on call or on duty
- Impersonating another nurse or other such licensed health care practitioner
- Allowing someone else to use one's license for the purposes of providing nursing services in exchange for compensation
- Having one's nursing license subject to disciplinary action in any jurisdiction of the U.S. for reasons that would be grounds for disciplinary action against a license in Tennessee
- Practicing nursing with a lapsed or inactive license
- Delegating nursing tasks to individuals who lack the qualifications necessary to safely perform said tasks
- Delegating or assigning nursing tasks without properly supervising those to whom the tasks were assigned or delegated
- Assisting/aiding/abetting/hiring someone to break a law or rule governing nursing and the health professions in Tennessee
- Attempting to exploit a patient (such as by promoting services for financial gain) by exercising undue influence on them
- Engaging in illegal discrimination when providing or refusing to provide nursing services
- Violating a patient's confidentiality rights by sharing information or knowledge, except when the law requires one to do so
- Failing to take necessary steps to safeguard a patient from incompetent nursing practices
- Failing to file a report with the Board when one has information regarding the unsafe, incompetent, illegal, or unethical practices of another nurse or other such health care provider
- Over-prescribing or otherwise prescribing in a manner that violates applicable laws and/or rules
- Practicing nursing in a manner that fails to conform to the standards established for nurses in Tennessee
- Performing nursing techniques or procedures when one lacks the training or education necessary to do so safely
- Engaging in acts of dishonesty that relate to one's nursing practice
- Testing positive for a drug during a drug screening when one lacks a prescription for said drug
- Providing someone else with one's access to a medication dispensing system
- Prescribing, diagnosing, or dispensing without properly collaborating with a doctor
- Surrendering one's DEA registration certificate or having said certificate revoked
- Making a false statement or misrepresentation (which can include misleading statements) during the course of a disciplinary investigation or hearing
- Violating the nurse-patient relationship boundaries
- Engaging in sexual conduct with a patient (which can involve using sexual language in front of a patient, making sexual references in front of a patient, requesting sexual favors from a patient, etc.)
- Prescribing controlled substances for oneself or one's immediate family members or friends, except in emergency situations when the law permits doing so
Understanding why the Board is considering disciplinary action against your license is vital when you receive notice of an investigation or similar proceeding. Representing nurses in Knoxville, Farragut, Lenoir City, and throughout the Knoxville metropolitan area, our Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can review your case and help you better understand the charges you may face.
A Note on Exceptions and Exemptions When a Nurse Faces Disciplinary Action in the Knoxville Area
The law establishes circumstances in which a nurse or prospective nurse may engage in acts or practices that might typically result in Board disciplinary action. As has already been referenced, a nurse can break certain rules when doing so is necessary to provide care in emergency situations.
Additionally, someone may practice nursing in various capacities without an active Tennessee nursing license if they're a nursing student. However, the manner in which they practice nursing must be relevant to their course of study, and they must be enrolled in a nursing education program that the Board has approved.
There are also cases when the Board may consider alternatives to traditional disciplinary action. For example, maybe a nurse struggles with substance abuse issues. Rather than taking action against their license, the Board could offer a nurse the option of enrolling in an alternative to discipline program designed to provide Tennessee nurses with the support they need when they're addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Those are just a few examples of ways in which a nurse may avoid disciplinary action despite engaging in a potential violation. At the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team, serving nurses across the Knoxville metropolitan area, we'll consider whether any exceptions, exemptions, or alternatives to disciplinary action may apply to your case. We can also cite your strong record and other such mitigating factors to show the Board why taking significant action against your license is unnecessary.
How the Board May Discipline a Nurse in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area
Various factors can influence the types of disciplinary action the Board may consider taking against a nurse when the Board finds a violation has occurred. Common forms of disciplinary action the Board may take include:
- Denial: The Board can deny a license to an applicant who's violated its rules or the law. Similarly, if a Tennessee nurse is guilty of a violation, the Board can refuse to renew their license. Just be aware that lying about a potential violation when applying for a new license or attempting to renew an existing license will only have an adverse effect in the long run.
- License suspension: Suspending a nurse's license involves temporarily prohibiting them from practicing nursing in Tennessee. The terms of a suspension can vary on a case-by-case basis. For example, in some instances, the Board may automatically lift a suspension after a set period of time elapses. In other cases, the Board may require nurses to fulfill certain conditions or requirements before lifting a suspension.
- License restriction or limitation: The Board may not always suspend the license of a nurse found to have committed a violation. The Board may instead allow them to continue practicing nursing while imposing certain limitations or restrictions on a nurse's license. For instance, perhaps a nurse got in trouble because they endangered patients while attempting to perform nursing tasks for which they lacked the proper skill, experience, training, education, or competence. The terms of a license restriction may prohibit a nurse from performing or attempting to perform these tasks until they demonstrate competence, complete a training course, etc.
- License revocation: Revoking a nurse's license is a severe form of disciplinary action the Board may take in cases involving significant misconduct, repeated misconduct, substantial harm to patients, etc. Although it's technically legally possible to have a revoked nursing license reinstated in the Knoxville metropolitan area, the Board may require a nurse to provide “evidence of satisfactory health, character, or professional nursing competence before reinstatement.”
Those aren't necessarily the only options from which the Board may choose when deciding the right way to discipline a nurse. As the law states, the Board can “otherwise discipline” a nurse in means that aren't listed here. The specific factors of your case may influence how the Board approaches disciplining your license.
Why a Nurse Facing Discipline in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area May Struggle to Obtain a License in Other States
The Board in Tennessee is like most nursing boards across the country now—it participates in the Nursys system. By participating in this network of nurse licensing boards, the Board shares its files and information on licensed nurses in the state with other Nursery-participating boards.
In theory, this is helpful when a Tennessee nurse moves to a different state or decides to practice nursing nomadically, traveling to different states to provide their services. The Nursys system ensures that a nurse licensed in one Nursys state can usually obtain a license in another Nursys state with relative ease.
However, this system can disadvantage a Tennessee nurse facing disciplinary action in the Knoxville metropolitan area. If the Board takes action against their license here, it may negatively affect their ability to obtain a license elsewhere.
Never ignore the matter if you find out the Board is investigating you for an alleged violation. Even if you don't plan on remaining in Tennessee much longer, action taken against your license here can limit your career prospects throughout the country. This is the type of outcome our Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm strives to guard against.
Contact the Lento Law Firm for Nurse License Defense Services in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area
Whether your employer is a major Knoxville health care provider like Parkwest Medical Center or Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, or you work for a smaller employer in any of Knoxville's suburbs, if you're facing Board disciplinary action in the Knoxville metropolitan area, our Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can help by:
- Reviewing your case and answering basic questions you may have about the allegations, the potential forms of disciplinary action you face, etc.
- Handling all correspondence with the Board on your behalf during an investigation
- Representing you during hearings
- When applicable, exploring or negotiating alternative options for disciplinary action
- Challenging the case and evidence against you
- Presenting mitigating factors to the Board
Those are just some of the general tactics we employ when defending Knoxville metropolitan area nurses whose professional licenses are in jeopardy. The specific way we assist you will depend on the nature of your case, as we tailor our strategy to the individual needs of each client.
Don't let an alleged violation put your career at risk. Find out more about how the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can help you now by submitting your information online or calling our offices today at 888-535-3686.
