At any point, your nursing license could be under investigation. Many nursing licenses are investigated because a patient’s care was called into question.
It can be upsetting to find that your nursing license is being scrutinized, simply because of the potential consequences. Depending on the result of an investigation, you might face a license suspension, revocation or other disciplinary measures. As a result, your career could be in jeopardy.
How you respond to an ongoing inquiry into your nursing license and practices could have a significant impact on the case. Here’s what you should know:
1. Why is your license under investigation?
You should receive a statement explaining the alleged infractions that led to you being investigated. It often helps to understand why you’re under investigation to respond properly
2. What should you document?
It’s often important to have a record of everything related to the investigation, including patient records, texts, emails, diagnostic results and any papers relating to the investigations. You may also need to document any discussions you have with the investigators. Having this knowledge will help you prevent needless delays or the loss of important evidence that might support your case.
3. Should you stay professional?
An investigation can cause a lot of stress for you. While this stress may cause you to feel tense, it’s still important to stay professional. This also means refraining from discussing the investigation with coworkers, patients and the media.
4. Should you assist in the investigation?
It can help to cooperate with investigators. While some information may need to stay private, information and documents requested by investigators may need to be provided. You may also need to attend nursing board meetings during the investigation.
5. Should you understand your legal rights?
If your nursing license is being investigated, your profession and way of life might be in jeopardy. If you’re looking to safeguard your profession, then understanding your legal rights may strengthen your case.
