The firm routinely represents nurses facing board complaints. And we’ve previously written about defending a nursing license. Here, however, we take a broader approach and briefly outline the nature of regulatory authority related to nurses in Texas.
The licensure and regulation of a nursing license is handled by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). The BON is responsible for enforcing the Nursing Practice Act (NPA), which sets the standards of nursing education and practice and establishes the licensing requirements for registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the state of Texas.
The BON has the authority to investigate complaints against nurses and to discipline those who violate the NPA or other regulations governing the practice of nursing. Examples of violations that can result in such actions include practicing without a valid license, engaging in unprofessional conduct, committing fraud, and practicing outside the scope of one's license or training.
Disciplinary actions that the BON can take against nurses include reprimands, fines, probation, suspension, or revocation of a license. Nurses who are facing disciplinary actions by the BON have the right to due process in defending a complaint and can appeal any decisions made by the BON to a state district court and ultimately a court of appeals.
Protecting a healthcare license is critical and through litigation nurses always have an avenue of redress. However, the best approach is to be cognizant of the regulatory requirements and the various violations that could lead to complaints and the subsequent possible disciplinary actions and then be diligent in ensuring that all activities undertaken are within the scope of licensure.
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