LaTonia Wright; nurse, attorney, advocate

Nurses in the Greater Cincinnati/Tristate area (Kentucky-Ohio-Indiana) have a real gem in their midst. I'm talking about LaTonia Wright, CEO of the Law Offic of LaTonia Denise Wright, LLC. She's a registered nurse in Ohio, and an attorney licensed to practice law in K-O-I. She specializes in license defense for nurses, but also provides workplace consultations and other services to nurses (in her own words...Representing, Counseling, and Advising Nurses).

What makes her special, at least to this graying, recovering nurse anesthetist, is how she "gets it" when it comes to the disease of chemical dependence. While a majority of our society, including health care providers, believe someone with active addiction is "choosing" to continue using drugs (including alcohol), LaTonia understands they are ill and require effective, evidence based treatment. She also understands the public must be protected from nurses who are not practicing safe nursing, for whatver reason. She wants to be sure the public is protected while assuring the rights of the nurse impaired by this disease are also protected.

In other words, she does her best to assure a win-win situation takes place...the public continues to receive the best care from competent nursing professionals, while the nurse with a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal disease receives the care needed to save their life and possibly their career.

Thank you, LaTonia, for treating nurses struggling with this disease with respect and compassion. And for advocating for their rights...to life (in recovery), liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...which can only happen when the disease is in remission.

Punishment vs. Treatment

I'm speaking tomorrow (Tuesday June 9, 2009) at the College of Mt. St. Joe here in Cincinnati. A student had the courage to contact a complete stranger to discuss this highly charged, extremely unpopular topic. Her class is having a debate between disciplinary measures to deal with an impaired nurse vs. "alternative to discipline" methods of dealing with the disease and the nurse who suffers with it.

I'll post the results tomorrow. It should be an interesting day.

Thanks for having the guts to take the less than popular stance, Samantha!

A Reminder to Nurses Renewing Their License

Ohio nurses renewing their licenses with a criminal conviction may be unsure what to do when it comes time to answering some of the questions on the license renewal form.

I can hear the gasps already. " A NURSE with a criminal record!?"

Oh PLEASE! If you are convicted of a traffic violation you have a criminal record! So please, step down from your "pulpit".

If you aren't sure what to do or how to answer some of these questions on your renewal form, be sure to seek legal advice if your conviction IS for more than a minor traffic violation. The conviction may not make a difference in your ability to renew your license and may have no impact on your ability to practice nursing, BUT, providing the wrong answer might affect your renewal process. If it delays it beyond the expiration date on your current license you might not be able to practice until things are cleared up.

Some links that might be able to provide assistance:

My 2 Cents Blog by Latonia Denise Wright, RN, BSN, JD

Frequently Asked Questions about Renewing/Reactivating/Reinstating Licenses

Ohio Nursing License Renewal Forms

Criminal Records Check Information in Ohio

Information regarding expungement of criminal records in Ohio can be found on the Ohio Legal Services web site.

Professional Liability Insurance for Nurses

One of the biggest mistakes nurses make is assuming the malpractice insurance their employer provides is the only insurance they need as a practicing nurse. Nothing could be further from the truth! The American Nurses Association states:

"Professional Liability Insurance: A must have for every nurse. Protect your career by purchasing your own coverage at a reasonable price. Every nurse today should carry their own professional liability insurance to protect themselves from the costs of legal and board of nursing action -- even if they are covered by their employer."

According to the Nurses Services Organization:

"Healthcare staff reductions are putting increased demands on nurses and more and more patients are demanding cash compensation for problems—both real and frivolous.

Many nurses choose to rely solely on the coverage provided by their employer to protect their finances and careers. While it is a valuable benefit there are good reasons not to depend on your employer’s coverage alone:

• Your employer's policy is not likely to offer coverage for off-duty incidents.
• Your employer's policy is not likely to cover you following a layoff or job change - even though you may still be held liable for a medical incident that occurred while you were employed.
• Worse yet, your employer's insurance company could actually turn around and sue you to recover damages if they feel you are even remotely responsible - armed with all the information you provided in good faith!"

According to LaTonia Denise Wright, RN, BSN, JD - "In my opinion all nurses should consider purchasing their own individual professional liability insurance policy. The risks you face in nursing practice won't disappear when you seek employment elsewhere; there are inherent risks associated with the practice of nursing. The potential for liability exists because of nursing accountability and this won't change with your employment setting."

Another problem to consider is board of nursing investigations and/or actions against you and your license. Defending yourself when facing the board of nursing makes no more sense than defending yourself in a criminal or civil legal proceeding!

Professional Liability Insurance protects you against covered claims arising from real or alleged errors or omissions, including negligence, in the course of your professional duties. Remember, legal defense and settlement costs are paid in addition to your limits of liability.

In the event of a lawsuit, your own Professional Liability Insurance policy would:

- Provide you with your own attorney
- Pay all reasonable costs incurred in the defense or investigation of a claim
- Pay your lost wages
- Provide reimbursement if licensing board issues were involved
- Pay court costs and settlements in addition to the limits of liability

Consult with a licensed insurance provider regarding the type of policies they offer for nurses.

Professionals carry liability insurance for their professional specialty. If you're a nurse and you DON'T carry your own liability insurance, why not? The time to find out if your insurance is adequate (either your own policy or that provided by your employer) is NOT when you are sued or called before the board of nursing.