What are the Charges?
The West Virginia Registered Nurses Board has the authority under law found in West Virginia Code §30-7-11 to discipline your license if, in its determination, you violated a standard of practice. Know that the West Virginia Registered Nurses Board will investigate every disciplinary complaint it receives. The Board takes very seriously its obligation to the public to ensure that West Virginia licensed nurses, or those working with a multistate license, are not going to harm those in their care. Whether you are an RN, APRN (CNP), CRNA, part-time, full-time, travel nurse or you have been practicing one day or 30 years, if a complaint is filed against your license the Board will absolutely evaluate the allegations to determine if your license should be sanctioned.
There are no “typical” disciplinary complaints that the West Virginia Board of Nursing receives. Each disciplinary filing is going to be different as the circumstances of each case are different. Yet, there are common categories of complaints. Your disciplinary complaint may be in one of the categories described below, but if not know that the Board will investigate regardless:
Abuse &
Neglect
The most serious of complaints the West Virginia Registered Nurses Board receives involves abusing and neglecting a patient. An abuse and neglect complaint filed by the Board may also come accompanied by a West Virginia Department of Human Services Complaint as well. This would be an Adult Protective Services Complaint wherein you are identified as the perpatrator. Though the definition of “abuse” and “neglect” may be slightly different for the two agencies, having either find that an RN, APRN or CRNA physically or emotionally abused a patient, or neglected to provide reasonable care to a patient, could lead to harsh discipline including suspension if not revocation of the nursing license. If you are dealing with both a nursing board complaint and an Adult Protective Service Complaint, my office can assist you with both. Click the link here to find out how I can help you witn an APS matter.
Impairment
Allegations that you went to work intoxicated or hungover or were on any substance that impairs your judgment as a nurse are also serious. Even if you are taking a prescription medication, if that medication renders your senses dull or your judgment questionable, you could very well face both termination from employment and significant discipline.
Diversion
Taking medicine – of any kind – from your employer is not going to end well. The West Virginia Registered Nurses Board despises diversion and though the Board has measure to assist you in getting help, it will still take significant action toward your nursing license if you are caught removing medicine from the workplace. Diversion is equally true even if you accidently left the workplace with a vial or pill that you failed to administer or return to the dispenser.
Beyond the
Scope
The West Virginia Registered Nurses Board has a practice guide that you can access online. The guide extensively addresses what is the “scope of practice” and if you exceed that scope then you may be subjected to discipline. For example, if you administer medication without an order, or give more medication than what was ordered, these actions would be out of the scope of practice and could lead to discipline. So could starting an IV in an unorthodox way or in a differing part of the patient’s body than acceptable. It is critical to understand your employer’s policies and job descriptions as well. These written documents will help define the scope of practice, or at least they should. Should you question the scope of practice at your work place then ask your supervisors for clarification.
Falsification
Abandonment
As the name implies, if you falsify any record related to the practice of nursing, whether that be a CE or background check or chart notation, you may be subject to discipline. It is critical that the nurse have a good understanding of how best to chart and to always tell the truth in any report submitted. This is especially true when providing documents to the West Virginia Registered Nurses Board in connection with license renewal.
Have you ever wanted to just say “I Quit” and then walk out the door? Well, you are not alone. However, if you do anything like that understand you may have abandoned your patient(s). Abandonment is leaving your patients, or the floor, or the facility, without ensuring report or adequate coverage. There are times leaving your shift or walking out of the job may be the right call, but do it the wrong way and you will face an abandonment complaint.
How I Help You Before The West Virginia Registered Nurses Board
Disciplinary Complaint Response
Remember you only have 14 days to respond to a West Virginia Registered Nursing Board Complaint that ALWAYS comes by Certified Letter. Do not wait - call my office as soon as possible so that I can arrange to write and file your response on your behalf. I want to get this problem out of your life so do not face the Board alone.
License Reinstatement
Have you been suspended? Have you been out of the practice for years and now want to return? Contact my office today so that I can assist in the process of getting your license reinstated!
Trial and Negotiation
I will negotiate with the West Virginia Registered Nurses Board to minimalize the impact of discipline on your license. However, if there is no other way to protect your license, then my office will defend you before the West Virginia Board of Nursing through its Hearings Process. It may not be like on TV but it is a trial to protect what you have worked hard to earn - your West Virginia Nursing License!