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.

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.