You studied, passed the required exams, and obtained your nursing license. Then, you chose to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). At the VA, you've dedicated your life and career to providing critical medical care to the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Although veterans may face many of the same medical challenges as the general population, their military service can lead to unique conditions and additional medical challenges. Furthermore, the VA is not immune to the staffing shortages, limited resources, and rising costs that plague modern health care across the United States. In these challenging times, you stand on the front line, committed to your patients, their health, and their welfare.
When you have given so much of yourself to your patients, it can be devastating to learn that a complaint was filed against you. A complaint filed against you with your state Board of Nursing or the VA can have far-reaching consequences, placing your license and your livelihood at risk. You may feel overwhelmed and isolated, worrying about the stigma of a professional disciplinary investigation and the risk of having your nursing license suspended or revoked.
If you are the subject of a disciplinary or misconduct investigation, you must take decisive action to defend yourself and refute the allegations against you. The Lento Law Firm understands the critical role you play in delivering compassionate medical care to veterans. We help VA nurses defend against accusations of professional misconduct. Our experienced Professional License Defense Team can partner with you to protect your nursing license and your career. Call our offices today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
When Misconduct Investigations Target VA Nurses
Your nursing license is issued and regulated by your state's Board of Nursing or a similar entity. State laws, regulations, and rules provide the framework for your professional actions and accountability. In most states, nurses are prohibited from engaging in improper conduct, including:
- Behaving unprofessionally, including treating patients inappropriately.
- Demonstrating incompetence and failing to meet adequate standards of patient care.
- Practicing under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Engaging in misrepresentation or fraud, such as inaccurate billing or record-keeping practices.
- Mishandling or misusing drugs, including failing to administer pharmaceuticals to patients.
Most disciplinary actions begin with a complaint, often made by a patient, coworker, or colleague, to a state Board of Nursing and against a licensed nurse. Then, the required disciplinary investigation and adjudication processes are conducted in a manner consistent with the state's guidelines and procedures.
The Lento Law Firm can help you navigate any Board of Nursing investigation or hearing. Our Professional License Defense Team represents nurses during every stage of an investigation or hearing.
As a nurse working for the VA, you may also be the target of an investigation by the VA's Patient Advocacy Program or Office of Inspector General. In recent years, the VA has investigated and assisted in the prosecution of nurses accused of many types of misconduct, including stealing opioids, using drugs intended for patients, and committing records fraud.
When a state Board of Nursing or the VA has launched an investigation into your professional conduct, it is important that you take action to protect yourself and your license. The Lento Law Firm can help you by creating a comprehensive defense strategy to refute the allegations against you. The sooner you contact the experienced Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm, the sooner we can fight for your rights and livelihood.
The Lento Law Firm Can Help
Across the country, the Lento Law Firm has helped VA nurses navigate disciplinary and professional misconduct investigations.
Our Professional License Defense Team can provide the legal guidance you need to navigate disciplinary procedures. Our attorneys can strategize with you, review and collect evidence, identify and meet with witnesses, and review investigatory and enforcement actions to ensure your due process rights are upheld. We can conduct our own independent investigation to discover mitigating facts, find supportive witnesses, and challenge the complainant's allegations.
You cannot trust that an investigation by a state Board of Nursing or the VA will be thorough, fair, or impartial. The best-intending investigators may miss vital or exonerating facts or fail to interview all the relevant witnesses. Even with accurate facts, a Board of Nursing or the VA may improperly second-guess your decisions, dismiss mitigating factors, or harshly question your judgment. With the Lento Law Firm Team on your side, we can develop and execute a comprehensive defense strategy aimed at upholding your due process rights, telling the story of your commitment to your patients, and protecting your nursing license.
You Are Not Alone
It can be difficult to admit that you need assistance with a complaint or disciplinary matter. The investigative process can be isolating and exhausting. You may feel that you must resign yourself to the allegations made against you.
Nothing could be further from the truth. While it is normal to feel overwhelmed during a professional misconduct investigation, you don't need to feel powerless. The Lento Law Firm and its Professional License Defense Team will fight for you. You do not have to face misconduct allegations or disciplinary hearings alone.
The Lento Law Firm is Here for You
When protecting your nursing license, the earlier you assemble a defense team to defend your rights and your nursing license, the better. The Lento Law Firm can assist from the moment you learn that a complaint was made against you.
If you tried to navigate a professional misconduct investigation or hearing alone and your initial outcomes have been unsuccessful, our Professional License Defense Team can help. Our experienced attorneys are ready to pick up your fight at any time.
When you want to create a team of experienced attorneys to protect your nursing license and your livelihood, contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or online to discuss your case.
