Rhode Island, like many places around the world, is experiencing a healthcare staffing shortage. Yet, many caring and qualified nurses in Rhode Island are faced with sanctions that affect their ability to practice medicine and provide care.
The Lento Law Firm Team knows the levels of effort, dedication, and compassion it takes to be a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), also known as a registered nurse (RN). We believe it is vital to keep good nurses working, and our team is ready to defend nurses like you whenever their ability to work is threatened.
Medical licensing boards don't always take the time to understand the full scope of a case, whether there have been honest mistakes, false allegations, or simple misunderstandings. Your nursing license is valuable and needs to be protected by the best resources available. Otherwise, you could face a suspension or revocation of your license, which would affect your ability to work.
The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team will defend your license and your reputation as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse. If you need help with the defense of your license or any other matters, call us today at 888-535-3686 or submit your details online to schedule your confidential consultation.
Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Rhode Island
Healthcare and social workers make up the largest employment sector in Rhode Island, nearly 19% of the total workforce. As a practical or vocational nurse in Rhode Island, you may be employed at a large hospital like the Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam Hospital, or the Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, Kent Hospital in Warwick, or South County Hospital in Wakefield. You may also be employed at a smaller facility, a physician's office, or a nursing home. Regardless of whether you are a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Licensed Vocational Nurse, and no matter where you are employed, the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team has the experience necessary to provide you with the best possible defense to safeguard your license and your livelihood.
Legal Powers the Rhode Island State Board of Nursing Has to Discipline You
The Rhode Island State Board of Nursing has the legal authority to deny, revoke, or suspend any nursing license so long as it has sufficient reason to do so. It can also administer nondisciplinary alternatives in situations involving alcohol or drug abuse.
Behaviors that could invoke disciplinary action from the Rhode Island State Board of Nursing include:
- Committing fraud or deceit while procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice nursing
- Being found guilty of a “crime of gross immorality”
- Being determined unfit or incompetent due to negligence, habits, or being mentally incompetent
- Addiction to habit-forming drugs
- Being found guilty of unprofessional conduct, including all of the above, as well as:
- Abandonment of a patient
- Willfully making and filing false reports or records in the practice of nursing
- Willful omission to file or record nursing records and reports required by law
- Failure to furnish appropriate details of a client's nursing needs to succeeding nurses legally qualified to provide continuing nursing services
- Willful disregard of standards of nursing practice and failure to maintain standards established by the nursing profession
- Willfully or repeatedly violating professional nursing rules or regulations
If the Board determines you are in violation of your licensing code of conduct, they can administer disciplinary action ranging from a warning all the way to the suspension of your nursing license. Any discipline administered by the Board may become part of your nursing record, which could limit your future job opportunities and impact your earning potential.
Facing Board discipline is a stressful situation. Having the right legal team by your side can give you peace of mind. That's why it's vital that you contact the Lento Law Firm License Defense Team as soon as you learn you are facing scrutiny from the Rhode Island State Board of Nursing.
Do Not Expect That the Truth Will Protect You from License-Related Sanction in Rhode Island
We have extensive experience defending nurses throughout the United States, and we have seen many cases in which a nurse did nothing wrong. Some of those nurses thought that the fact that they had not done anything to warrant discipline would be enough to protect them from Board disciplinary procedures. We've seen this with both Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses. These nurses are fortunate that they still contacted the Lento Law Firm because they soon learned that respective nursing boards would not always act rationally and fairly.
The facts, unfortunately, do not always determine the outcome of nurse-specific disciplinary cases. Nursing boards make mistakes and can hand down unfair or inaccurate rulings for any number of reasons:
- The board fails to conduct the necessary due diligence and does not uncover facts, testimony, or other evidence that would affect the outcome of a case
- The board is biased for any reason, either in favor of the complainant or against the accused
- The board chooses not to consider certain evidence or testimony, including exculpatory evidence
- The board fails to reach an appropriate conclusion despite all the information they have available
The Rhode Island State Board of Nursing has issued countless cases of discipline against licensed nurses. It's impossible to know just how many of these nurses were totally innocent of the allegations against them or how many of these issued sanctions weren't in proportion to the violations that were made.
It's best not to assume anything when it comes to defending your license as a practical or vocational nurse. Even if you've done absolutely nothing wrong, let an attorney from the Lento Law Firm team make sure that every fact is presented and every scenario explored so that you get the most favorable outcome to your case.
What Is the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, and Why Is It Relevant to Nurses Practicing in Rhode Island?
The Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) is an initiative designed to standardize nursing requirements acrossthe United States. Under the eNLC, Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses can have a multi-state license. This license lets them practice in any participating state without requiring any additional licensing. This makes it easier both for nurses to relocate and for states to hire qualified healthcare workers.
Rhode Island is a member of the eNLC, as is its neighboring state, Massachusetts, and there are many Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses who practice in both states. While this affords these nurses greater flexibility with their careers, it also means that they must comply with the practice laws of each state where they work. Practical and vocational nurses in NLC-compliant states also have more to lose when facing sanctions on their license, their nursing record can follow them from one state to another.
Practical and vocational nurses practicing in compact states are subject to the authority of their home state, the Board of Nursing, and the states' boards where they practice. These multiple layers of oversight and regulation make multi-state disciplinary investigations that much more complicated. Fortunately, the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team has many years of experience representing Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Rhode Island and other eNLC states across the nation. We can help you navigate your case no matter how complicated it may be and protect your rights.
Why the NCSBN's Nursys Database Is Relevant to Nurses Facing Possible License Sanctions
Another tool for unifying nursing in the United States is the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's Nursys database. This database allows users to look up the license status and disciplinary history of any nurse in a participating state. Healthcare systems, hospitals, and other employers can and will use this data to make hiring decisions.
Nursys is a valuable and convenient tool for the healthcare industry, but, like the Nurse Licensure Compact, it means higher stakes for practical and vocational nurses who receive sanctions in Rhode Island. These sanctions will appear in the Nursys database and will need to be addressed when applying for a license renewal or a new job. States can access the Nursys database even if they don't participate in the program.
A record of any sanctions received as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse in the state of Rhode Island will be kept in this nationwide database. This underscores how important it is that you contact the Lento Law Firm and start planning your defense as soon as you discover that you are facing the possibility of sanctions on your license.
It May be Possible to Reinstate Your License
If your nursing license has been suspended, it doesn't necessarily mean an end to your career. It may be possible for you to get your license reinstated. You can do this by filing a petition to reinstate once the timeframe for your suspension has passed.
To successfully reinstate your license, you'll need to file the correct forms, pay the required fees, and prove that the terms of your suspension are no longer in effect—for example, if you were suspended for substance abuse, you would need to provide proof of recovery.
If your license was revoked and not suspended, you will likely need to retake your tests and get recertified. The Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education will have discretion over all decisions relating to reinstatement of your license.
Whether you're a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Licensed Vocational Nurse, you know how valuable your license is. The Lento Law Firm understands the passion you have for helping people, and we're equally passionate about protecting your rights and preserving your ability to provide care.
How Our Firm Will Assist You
The Lento Law Firm Team's first mission in any licensing sanctions case will be to protect your good name and avoid sanctions on your license. If sanctions are inevitable, we will do everything in our power to reduce those sanctions as much as possible. Here's the process you can expect when working with us:
- Identify the ideal outcome of your case: In some cases, a nurse is totally innocent of their accusations. In others, a temporary lapse of judgment resulted in an uncharacteristic breach of conduct or a mistake that should have been avoided. We will learn every detail of your case and form a strategy targeting the best possible outcome for you.
- Obtain all relevant evidence and testimony: We'll investigate your case to find witnesses and other evidence that will help us reach our ideal outcome. We don't rely on third-party information and will verify everything ourselves instead. We know that the right piece of evidence or witness testimony can have a major impact on the outcome of your nurse licensure case.
- Explore settlements outside of the standard adjudication proceedings: We will negotiate with any Offices of General Counsel (OGCs) that have the authority to settle your case. Direct negotiations like this can often lead to efficient and ideal outcomes.
- Accompany you through adjudication proceedings: We'll be right there with you should your case go through traditional adjudication channels. We'll be present at any meetings, we'll represent you during your actual hearing, and we'll follow through with any appeals or reinstatement processes as necessary.
- Take further legal steps, if necessary: When your nursing license is on the line, all options should be on the table. This includes taking legal action beyond appeals if needed. We will discuss options with you as they become relevant to your case.
The Lento Law Firm is a nationwide legal team, and we have extensive experience negotiating with professional licensing boards and their attorneys. We consider every client's unique circumstances and always work to attain the best possible outcome.
Call the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team Today to Discuss How We Will Fight for Your Nursing License in Rhode Island
If your nursing license is in jeopardy, our team is ready to come to your aid today.
Call our team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online for your confidential consultation.
