Nursing Board Complaints and Investigations in Virginia

Virginia’s Nursing Regulatory Board has broad powers to oversee the professional conduct of every practicing nurse in the Commonwealth. This includes the power to receive complaints from the general public as to the fitness of nurses, to investigate those matters, and to hold hearings concerning potential disciplinary action against those practitioners.

If you are facing allegations of professional misconduct as a nurse in Virginia, it is essential to understand what you are up against. An attorney could help to provide more information about the Nursing Board complaints and investigations in Virginia. Armed with this knowledge, you stand a better chance of defending your actions and protecting your professional future. Call a skilled nursing license defense lawyer today.

The Powers of the Nursing Board to Regulate Nurses in Virginia

The creation of the Nursing Regulatory Board and the basis for its power is founded in Commonwealth Law. According to VA Code §54.1-3007, the Board has the specific power to issue licenses to practice nursing, to suspend or revoke those licenses, and to censure any license holder under certain circumstances.

The Board has the power to investigate a supposed instance of misconduct as they see fit, and they have a variety of means to do so. In some cases, the Board will receive a complaint, conduct an investigation, and dismiss the incident without any further action.

However, in some cases, the Board will hold either an informal conference or a formal hearing to determine what to do with allegations of misconduct. The outcome of these sessions can have a profound effect on a nurse’s professional career. Therefore, it is crucial for a defendant facing allegations to obtain a lawyer who is knowledgeable about the Nursing Board complaints and investigations in Virginia.

The Complaint and Investigation Process

All complaints that go through the Nursing Regulatory Board follow a specific procedure. It is essential to remember that all nurses that are the subjects of these hearings have rights that include due process before any discipline occurs.

A case typically begins when a member of the public files a complaint against the nurse. This is done online or through completing an official form and sending it to the Board. The Board has the obligation to investigate any complaint that it receives.

Typically, this is done without the knowledge or participation of the subject of the investigation. The Board may take steps to:

  • Gather more information from the complainant
  • Speak to any third-party witnesses who may have seen an event
  • Gather documentary evidence
  • Review any relevant security footage
  • Consult with law enforcement agencies that may be involved

Usually, the Board will conclude an investigation within 250 days of the receipt of a complaint. The results of the investigation then go to the Nursing Regulatory Board with a recommendation for further action. Ideally, for nurses, this report will recommend no further action.

However, in cases where there is a reason to believe that a violation has occurred, the Board will order either an informal conference or a formal hearing to continue the matter.

Learn More About Nursing Board Complaints and Investigations in Virginia

Whenever the Nursing Regulatory Board receives a complaint from a member of the public, they have an obligation to conduct an investigation. Typically, this involves no input from you, and you may not even know that the investigation is underway.

While the fact that an investigation is underway is not cause for concern in and of itself, that investigation’s findings may compel the Board to conduct more in-depth sessions concerning potential professional misconduct. Because these investigations and subsequent hearings must follow specific rules, an understanding of these rules is essential to forwarding a powerful defense.

A lawyer may be able to help you to understand the processes behind Nursing Regulatory Board complaints and investigations in Virginia. They could also provide help when those investigations spawn disciplinary hearings. Contact an attorney today to learn more about your rights in these Board sessions.