Satisfactory patient care is the goal of healthcare facilities. So, when administration receives a claim alleging patient neglect, they will take it seriously. Sometimes, these allegations do not just involve disciplinary actions involving the healthcare facility, they sometimes also threaten the licensure of the nurse. When a matter escalates to this point, it is essential to take this matter seriously and prepare a defense. 

Detail the Full Story

Now is not the time to carry the entire load on your shoulders. As a healthcare professional, yes, you are responsible for the care your patients receive, but when there is a failure in care, rarely, is it the result of a single action. It is instead the result of a culmination of events. Consider a nurse with a patient load that exceeds the approved limit, for instance. 

If the nurse was not able to establish proper care because they had too many patients and the patient load was assigned by the administration, you should include this bit of information in your defense. Including all these details has nothing to do with telling on someone else, but everything to do with establishing a cause behind your actions, which is important.

File an Official Response

By now, you have been notified that there is an investigation being conducted as to whether you should lose your license. In short, an official response is essentially your statement of defense, or of your account, and it is important to have this on file. 

It is a good idea to bring in an attorney for this step. A nurse license defense attorney will help ensure you do not put anything in the response that can be misinterpreted or self-incriminating. Depending on the law in your state, you may be required to file an official response before you can see the documentation being presented against you, so keep this in mind  

Take it Seriously

There are instances when the claims filed against a nurse are unfounded and entirely false, but every accusation should still be taken seriously. You cannot just assume that the nursing board will believe your statement of innocence, as hard as it is to accept, you will need to prove your innocence.

Whether it is meeting any deadlines imposed on you by the nursing board or avoiding discussing the details of the matter with other hospital staff members, you must take the matter seriously and do everything in your power to protect your license. 

If you are facing disciplinary action, it is important that you start working on your defense as soon as possible. Contact a nurse license defense attorney for assistance with this matter.