Nurses: Take a Look at This Disciplinary Action Database
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law Nurses, did you know the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) maintains a database of all state disciplinary actions? This database, called Licensure QuickConfirm, lists all disciplinary actions from the Florida Board of Nursing and forty-six […]
Former Texas Official Sentenced for Retaliation Against Nurses
According to ABC News, Scott Tidwell, a former West Texas county attorney, will serve four months in jail and 10 years of probation for retaliating against two nurses. The nurses filed an anonymous complaint to state medical regulators against a doctor who used herbal remedies and hospital supplies to perform at-home procedures. The doctor then […]
Nurses: Insuring Your Legal Protection
Though many nurses pursue a career in nursing hoping that they will never face disciplinary charges, any number of events not in a nurse’s control can lead to an investigation or administrative action. Nurses need to make sure they are covered if this ever occurs, with appropriate insurance. The primary reason that a nurse should […]
Nurses Rx: Medication Administration
From George Indest’s Nursing Law Manual Nurses face a busy schedule often including a long list of patients and extensive work hours. As a result, they can become overworked and overtired, which may lead to mistakes when carrying out essential job duties like administering medication. An Institute of Medicine (IOM) report titled To Err is […]
Nurses: Advanced Practice May Mean Advanced Legal Issues
From George Indest’s Nursing Law Manual The advanced nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed some form of advanced nursing education and training. Two types of advanced nurses are the advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) and the certified nurse specialist. In Florida, there are three types of certified nurse specialists: certified registered nurse […]
Doctor or Nurse, Please, Please, Please: Talk to an Attorney Before You Talk to an Investigator
Despite mailing out hundreds of thousands of postcards and letters to physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and psychologists throughout Florida, we continue to receive calls from new clients and from potential clients, after they have already spoken to and made critical harmful admissions against their own interests to investigators. In Florida, you do not have any […]
California and Colorado Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) Can Administer Anesthesia Without the Supervision of a Physician
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law Recently, courts in both California and Colorado ruled that Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are now allowed to independently administer anesthesia to patients without the supervision of a physician. In California, the decision came from the First District […]
Nurse Accused of Illegally Writing Herself Prescriptions for Painkillers
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law A Central Florida nurse is in trouble with the law for allegedly writing fake prescriptions and illegally obtaining painkillers for herself, according to the Orlando NBC affiliate, WESH television. The nurse was allegedly arrested during the week of […]
Is It Legal to Make Flu Shots Mandatory for Health Care Professionals?
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law The warnings have been loud and clear from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This influenza season is off to an early and serious start. With that in mind, a number of states are requiring all […]
Almost 19% of Nurse Aides Charged with Abuse and Neglect, had Prior Criminal Records
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law A report released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) on October 5, 2012, found that nineteen percent (19%) of long-term care nurse aides who were found guilty of on-the-job abuse, […]