If you are a professionally licensed nurse facing an investigation or disciplinary action in front of the BVNPT, you should consider seeking the advice and representation of an experienced license defense attorney. SJ Harris has extensive experience in defending nurses against a range of accusations, including medication errors, patient mistreatment, and failure to comply with regulations.
We can assist you in navigating the investigation process and preparing for any administrative hearings or appeals. In the worst-case scenario of license revocation, we can help you pursue reinstatement or other options to minimize the impact on your career. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you defend your nursing license.
The bureaucratic nature of the California Board of Vocational Nursing can make the process of defending oneself against an accusation difficult. Individuals facing the loss of their professional licenses should consider hiring an experienced license defense attorney. Below, we discuss the importance of such attorneys and why Scott J. Harris is the best choice. We also delve into the role of the BVNPT in protecting the public from unprofessional and unsafe licensed vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians and their disciplinary guidelines. SJ Harris also answers some common questions that nurses may have when facing an accusation against their nursing license.
With its mission to protect the public and ensure that licensed vocational and registered nurses and other advanced nursing practitioners are safe and competent to perform their duties as a nurse, the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians have a lot of power. Unfortunately, this means that despite its good intentions, the Board can be bureaucratic as well.
This is why you should consider hiring an experienced license defense attorney to assist you with matters before the Boards of nursing.
Why Should I Choose Scott J Harris to Represent Me?
Scott J. Harris is a graduate of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and knows the role of a prosecutor vs defense attorney, as he is experienced at both. He has nearly two decades of experience as an attorney and started his law firm in 2010 to defend people facing the loss of their professional licenses.
Scott’s career path has included positions as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice and the Liaison Deputy for the Licensing Section of the Office of the Attorney General to the California Board of Accountancy as well as the Court Reporters Board of California. Having sat on both sides of hundreds of licensing hearings, he understands what nurses and other licensed professionals are going through as they face the loss of years of hard work. S J knows the questions that state and local officials will ask and prepares his clients and witnesses to answer them truthfully and helpfully.
He is an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School, where he focuses on administrative law and appellate advocacy. Scott was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, Southern California for seven consecutive years (2012-2018). He was then elevated in 2020 to the Southern California Super Lawyers List, where he remained, and was twice honored as a Top Lawyer by Pasadena Magazine.
Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians and Licensing Defense (BVNPT)
According to the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, often called the BVNPT, its mission as of March 2023 is as follows:
Mission
The Board serves and protects the public by licensing qualified and competent vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians through ongoing educational oversight, regulation, and enforcement.
Vision
Access to the highest quality patient care for all.
Values
- Accountability
- Excellence
- Inclusiveness
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Trust
The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (Board) protects the public from unprofessional and unsafe licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and psychiatric technicians (PTs). The highest priority of the Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions is pubic protection:
To protect the public, the Board states it does the following:
- Establishes the minimum requirements for examination and licensure.
- Establishes educational standards for the approval of Vocational Nursing (VN) and Psychiatric Technicians (PT) schools in California.
- Adopts regulations to clarify the performance, practice, and disciplinary standards for its licensees.
- Enforces the regulations governing the continued approval of VN & PT schools in California.
- Enforces the regulations governing LVNs and PTs by taking appropriate disciplinary action against incompetent or unsafe licensees efficiently and effectively.
Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians Disciplinary Guidelines and Uniform Standards Related to Substance Abuse
Like the Board of Registered Nursing, and Medical Board of California, the BVNPT has developed guidelines. The guidelines are in place to assist litigants, licensees, administrative law judges, and attorneys in assessing the appropriate level of discipline the Board may render against a licensee for the violation of the law. The current guidelines can be found here.
Within the guidelines, the Board outlines various types of legal violations and the recommended discipline that should attach to the case and Accusation. The outcome can be dependent on how well you or the Board argue that the guidelines apply, or whether they can be deviated from. An experienced attorney with a focus on licensing defense will know how to navigate the guidelines, and potentially convince a judge or the Board to deviate from them.
Get Assistance Understanding the Laws and How They Pertain to Your Case
Reading and understanding the Board’s laws and regulations can be tedious and difficult. A trained and experienced lawyer like Scott J. Harris of S J Harris Law can help you navigate the laws that govern your nursing license.
Contact a Proven Nursing License Defense Attorney Today
No matter who you are or what you have done, S J Harris Law is ready to help you. His office is a judgment-free zone. Scott J. Harris understands that you have a lot more to lose than just a job. You may be burdened with student loan debt and are now facing having to pay for an education that you might no longer be able to use. Perhaps you are also a member of the community or religious boards and are afraid that your peers will reject you if you lose your professional license.
You simply do not want to start your career over, but you know that’s a possibility. Whether you are a parent or a future parent, you are also worried about how losing your registered nursing license will impact your family.
S J Harris Law is ready to stand up for your rights, even if you are technically guilty of the offense of which you have been accused. He will try his best to keep your business out of a courtroom, but if he has to go to court he has the experience to do so.
It all starts with a free, confidential consultation. Fill out the form or call 323-794-0701.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I have an accusation filed against my nursing license?
If you have received a formal complaint, accusation, or citation against your nursing license, you need to contact a professional license defense attorney immediately. We will be able to determine the proper steps you should take to clear your name.
Can I lose my nursing license if I have a criminal background?
Nursing schools have different policies. Some may conduct criminal background checks, and some may not. It may be difficult to be admitted to the program if you have a criminal background. If your school allows you to enroll despite your criminal background, it’s still a good idea to work toward having your record expunged while you are a student. The most reliable way to do this is to work with an experienced license defense lawyer.
Should I take measures to protect my nursing license against complaints?
Yes, precautionary measures should definitely be taken to avoid complaints. For example, following established protocols and procedures, proper communication with patients and families, completing continuing education, and making sure you submit updates to your credentials in a timely manner.
