Washington Board of Nursing-Attorneys, Lawyers and Legal Counsel
| Licensing Board | Washington Nursing Commission |
|---|---|
| Address, Physical | Town Center 2, 111 Israel Road South East, Tumwater, WA 98501 |
| Address, Mail | P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504- 7864 |
| Telephone No. | (360) 236-3204 |
| Fax No. | |
| Website | https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPer mitsandCertificates/NursingCommissi on |
Our attorneys routinely represent professionals in the nursing fields. This includes full advice and assistance during the investigation, including obtaining and filing statements and other evidence that may be necessary, hearing preparation and hearing representation as further discussed below.
Remember these important points before hiring anyone for representation on a Washington nursing complaint:
Do not hire an attorney who cannot or will not represent you at a hearing. This is only incomplete, partial representation.
Often individuals who hold themselves out to be counselors or professionals with expertise in nursing matters will advertise that they can assist you in complaints and investigations. But if the case becomes complicated or a hearing is required, they rapidly abandon you. Don’t get caught in such a fix.
Be reluctant to submit a written statement signed by yourself during the initial investigation. Such statements can and will be used against you to prove the case against you, if you have a hearing. In some states, such as Florida, you cannot be required to make such statements; the Fifth Amendment protects you in such a situation. However, other states require a signed statement from you. Be sure you know.
Be cautious about selecting an informal hearing instead of a formal hearing. If you select an informal hearing, this means you are not contesting the charges against you, you are admitting them (or admitting you are guilty), and the hearing will only allow you to address the amount of punishment you receive.
If you are not guilty, desire to have the state prove the case against you if it has evidence to do so, and will be allowed to defend yourself, you should select a formal hearing.
Be very careful about accepting a Settlement Agreement (“SA”), Consent Order (“CO”), or Stipulated Consent Order (“SCO”), as it means you are pleading guilty and will have discipline on your license for the rest of your life.
If you have malpractice insurance, it probably contains professional license defense coverage that will pay for your legal defense expenses in the case. Don’t waste a valuable benefit you have paid for. Retain an attorney who accepts your insurance at the very first notice of a complaint.
In Washington the Board of Nursing does hold formal hearings. However, if you are going before the Board of Nursing because of a complaint, you are almost always either doing it as an informal hearing (in which you have admitted the charges) or as part of a Settlement Agreement/Consent Order in which you have agreed to accept discipline on your license. In the event of a formal hearing before the board, you should have legal representation. In either case, you are going to have discipline on your license for the rest of your life. Make sure you know for sure what the procedures are in this state so that you do not inadvertently give up your rights.
Our attorneys are licensed only in Florida, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia, but we are authorized to represent you in these matters in many of the other states listed above under the state’s multi-jurisdictional practice rules for attorneys; we may apply for special admission privileges under the state’s pro hac vice rules or have to take other such actions to represent you, but we routinely do this.
To contact an attorney with The Health Law Firm for a consultation or representation, click here.
The provision of this information does not constitute the practice of law in this state/jurisdiction nor the advertisement of the practice of law in this state/jurisdiction. This is not the provision of legal advice. Legal advice must be specific to the facts of each individual case. Hiring an attorney is an important decision which should not be made based on advertising alone. Ask for additional information on the qualifications of any attorney before hiring them. Our attorneys only practice in those states and jurisdictions in which they are licensed to practice law or legally permitted to practice law. An attorney-client relationship can only be formed with our attorneys through payment of a retainer fee and a retainer agreement signed by all parties.