If someone has made a complaint about you to the Minnesota Board of Nursing, or you are facing a disciplinary hearing or the need to reinstate your license, you may be tempted to handle it on your own. Let’s talk about the reasons why it’s a bad idea to represent yourself before the Board of Nursing.

The Most Common Reasons Nurses Fail to Hire an Attorney

Misunderstanding of the Process

You are a nurse, and so are the people on the Board of Nursing. You may think that if you can just tell your side of the story, you can clear up the whole misunderstanding that led to the complaint against you, and it will be dismissed with no further action. This is especially common for nurses who believe they are wholly innocent of wrongdoing.

Unfortunately, the scenario above rarely unfolds. The priority of the Board of Nursing is ensuring patient safety and well-being. If they have any reason at all to believe your conduct endangers patients, the public, or the profession, the file will remain active. In other words, you will not receive the benefit of the doubt. And without the guidance of someone familiar with the process, you could accidentally do or say something that hurts your position and jeopardizes your license.

The only person who represents your interests in the complaint or disciplinary process is your attorney. It’s critical that the person defending you has the experience, knowledge, and skill to protect you.

Worry About Stigma

It’s possible that you are concerned about how it might look to your colleagues or your employer if you hire an attorney to represent you—perhaps you think that hiring an attorney suggests that you are actually guilty of misconduct. The truth is that hiring an attorney is a smart move, for the reasons outlined above. If your colleagues were in your position, they would probably want an attorney. And if an attorney’s help means that you are able to put a complaint or disciplinary hearing behind you, you will be vindicated, not stigmatized.

Concern About Cost

Let’s face it: legal representation costs money. It’s understandable that nurses, especially if they believe they can effectively represent themselves, might want to avoid having to pay for an attorney. But in reality, an attorney fee in a licensure defense matter isn’t an expense—it’s an investment in your future. No one can guarantee what the outcome of a complaint or licensing matter will be, but having a knowledgeable attorney on your side improves your chances of a favorable result.

What to Look for in an Attorney

It’s not just important to have an attorney; it’s important to have the right attorney for your needs. Just as you wouldn’t go to an orthopedist or a dermatologist for a neurological issue, you shouldn’t work with just any attorney for a nursing licensure defense matter. Even an attorney who is skilled in other areas of practice may not be able to represent you effectively in protecting your nursing license.

You should have an attorney who is familiar with the administrative law process, as well as the nursing practice issues from which complaints often arise. Nurse attorney Jackie L. Russell is not only an attorney, but a licensed nurse who has worked in a variety of medical settings, in both large and small facilities.

In addition, Jackie spent six years working as an attorney for the Minnesota Nurses Association. She served first as Nursing Practice Specialist and then as in-house General Counsel for the organization, which represents over 22,000 nurses in the Midwest. Much of Jackie’s work involved empowering nurses to address nursing practice concerns, so she is deeply familiar with the practice issues nurses face on a daily basis. This constellation of experience uniquely equips her to defend nurses with potential discipline or licensure matters.

These matters are not only professional, but deeply personal. To many nurses, their work isn’t just a career, but a calling. So it’s also important to have an attorney who helps you feel informed and supported as you navigate the process of responding to a complaint or dealing with discipline.

To meet Jackie L. Russell, learn more about her qualifications, and discover how she can help and support you, contact the Law Office of Jackie L. Russell, PLLC to schedule a consultation.