Nursing License Defense Lawyers

Nursing professionals work hard to obtain their license, and the healthcare lawyers at Norman Spencer Law Group work just as hard representing and defending them when needed. Our attorneys have represented hundreds of nurses faced with matters that threaten their professional license. These include positive drug tests, negligence claims, failure to report convictions, drug diversion, nurse practice act violations, DUI, impairment allegations and criminal matters.

Our lawyers also help nurses obtain a license and with employment matters. We have more than 10 years’ experience in the healthcare legal field, representing nurses before state licensing divisions, administrative courts and the Board of Nursing.

Failed drug tests can result in nursing licensing issues, and our lawyers regularly represent nurses facing this predicament. The most common reasons nurses fail drug tests include marijuana, alcohol, benzodiazepines or pain medications. Nurses that failed the drug test are often likewise accused of drug diversion.

Failing an employer-ordered or pre-employment drug test can result in severe consequences. Nurses who test positive for drugs are generally terminated from employment and reported to the state, which typically takes action against their nursing license. The state can even immediately suspend a nursing license under certain conditions. The lawyers at Norman Spencer Law Group have helped many nurses protect their licenses after being accused of failing a drug test.

Many nurses have lost their license due to a DUI. Others have gone through expensive, invasive and lengthy monitoring requirements that are part of the state’s impairment program. Many nurses go right into the state’s impairment program without first consulting a defense lawyer, which may have changed the outcome of their case.

Our healthcare lawyers strive to help protect nursing licenses, as well as the ability to practice without restrictions and monitoring requirements. We can help with nurses recently charged with DUIs as well as nurses facing disciplinary actions for prior DUIs.

Drug diversion involves the misuse of a prescription medication without legal authorization. Drug diversion accusations can stem from a variety of scenarios, such as improper waste, errors with the Pyxis system, or stealing narcotics from an employer or medical facility.

The attorneys at Norman Spencer Law Group have defended many nurses and other licensed healthcare professionals from a variety of drug diversion allegations. These have included everything from state licensing infractions to federal indictments for multiple counts. Our professional nursing license lawyers have extensive experience handling all types of drug diversion cases, whether it’s federal, state, administrative or criminal.

Our clients include nurses who are mandated to impairment programs as well as those recently accused of impairment who are considering contacting PRN, IPN or HPRP. Referrals to impairment programs most commonly stem from positive employment drug tests, DUI and drug diversion.

The attorneys at Norman Spencer Law Group can help nurses understand their options if they’re considering entering an impairment program. We can also help nurses who are already in impairment programs by reviewing and even helping to modify monitoring agreements.

Professional nursing licenses may be revoked or suspended for multiple reasons. These can include positive drug tests, failure to comply with impairment programs, probation violations and fraud and drug convictions. Our lawyers have helped many nurses restore their licenses after a suspension. It’s important to contact one of our nursing license attorneys as soon as possible if you’re license has been suspended, as you have a brief timeframe for requesting a hearing to challenge the suspension.

While law firms that deal with nursing license matters are well-versed in licensing matters, we also have a team of criminal defense attorneys with extensive experience in the field. Our licensing lawyers and criminal defense lawyers work in tandem to handle criminal charges in a way that protects your nursing license once the criminal case is resolved.

We not only help nurses that are currently facing charges, but also those with prior criminal convictions or those facing disciplinary action for failing to report a criminal conviction in a timely manner.

Nurses and nursing students with disciplinary issues or past criminal records frequently have difficulty obtaining a nursing license. Although the licensing process can take an extensive amount of time with a previous sanction or conviction, most issues do not automatically bar nurses from obtaining a license. We represent nurses during hearings before the nursing board while also assisting with the licensing application process.

Reporting disciplinary action and criminal convictions involves a balance. You want to demonstrate you can practice nursing safely but you also don’t want to divulge too much unnecessary information that may negatively impact your license. Our lawyers can help you find that balance, and we’ve helped many nurses properly report past actions to the applicable authorities.

If you are a nurse facing issues that impact your license, contact one of the attorneys at Norman Spencer Law Group immediately. Call our office to schedule a consultation today.