You’ve worked for years to become a vocational nurse, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner in Texas. If a complaint is filed against you, your career and livelihood are in jeopardy. It is imperative that you are prepared to properly defend yourself against a Board of Nursing complaint that has been lodged against you.
What to Know Before Appearing Before the Texas Board of Nursing
The best course of action when you are notified of a complaint filed against you is to consult a professional license defense attorney with BON experience. Our firm believes that immediately consulting an experienced license defense attorney to review allegations of misconduct helps ensure the most favorable outcome in your case.
Take the complaint seriously.
Even if you believe the complaint does not have merit, it is critical that you take the complaint seriously. Allegations of professional misconduct need to be faced head-on and defended against from the start. Read our article The Dangers of Procrastinating When Facing Allegations of Misconduct.
Your right to due process.
The BON provides due process to a nurse when a complaint is filed against him or her, giving notice of the investigation and allegations. You will be given the opportunity to respond to the alleged conduct and to show compliance with the Texas Nursing Practice Act.
Your right to an attorney.
During all stages of the investigation process, nurses have the right to be represented by an attorney. Hiring an attorney to help you mount a strong defense serves to protect your license, reputation, and your career; it does not make you look guilty.
The Board of Nursing is not on your side.
BON’s duty is to protect the public, not to help you defend your license. Any communications you have with them, written or verbal, can be used as evidence against you. To have a true advocate on your side, hire a BON license defense attorney.
Gather documentation.
Before appearing before BON, it is important to gather documentation that is relevant to the allegations made against you. Documentary evidence is often the most persuasive type of evidence BON will consider. A solid paper trail that supports your side of the story is one of your strongest defenses.
Make sure to provide all documentation to your attorney as well. Review the documents multiple times before appearing before BON. It is important that you and your attorney know every detail contained in the documentation.
Be prepared to speak for yourself.
BON wants to hear your side of the events. Do not rely on your attorney to speak on your behalf. You should be thoroughly prepared on the facts of the complaint. This is your opportunity to present your version of the events in a light most favorably to you, and the chance to refute allegations asserted by the complainant.
For more helpful guidance, read our article The Do’s and Don’ts of Appearing Before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON).
Get a copy of Tony Bertolino’s Bestselling book When Your License is Under Attack: A Survival Guide for Texas Professionals in hardcover or for Kindle here.
Our law firm helps professionals, like you, keep their licenses when those licenses are under attack by a state agency or board.
If you have been notified of a complaint filed against you with a licensing board, agency, or commission in Texas, BERTOLINO LLP can help. We are experienced license defense attorneys and we know how to navigate the complaint process against any professional, medical, or vocational license. We are prepared to represent you at any legal hearing or proceeding regarding your license.
With offices in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, we serve clients all over the state. As experienced attorneys, well-versed in state and federal laws, we know how to win. Our results speak for themselves!
If you are facing disciplinary action from a professional licensing board, contact us today or call (512) 476-5757 and schedule a case evaluation.
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