Chicago LPN License Defense Lawyer

Attorneys Assisting Licensed Practical Nurses Throughout Illinois With Disciplinary Action

Nurses provide essential care for patients at all levels of the medical system. However, they must follow certain standards of conduct, and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in particular must ensure that they are operating within the scope that is allowed. If an LPN is accused of violating standards, exceeding the scope of their duties, or otherwise acting unprofessionally, they may face disciplinary action to their professional license.

If you are an LPN who is being investigated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) or the Illinois Board of Nursing, Williams & Nickl, LLC can help you defend your license against discipline. Attorney Edward W. Williams is the former IDFPR Chief of Prosecutions, and he and Attorney Fred Nickl have represented more than 3,000 clients in professional license defense cases. Edward and Fred have over 55 combined years of legal experience, and with our reputation as tough litigators, we can help you protect your nursing license.

LPN License Discipline

Licensed Practical Nurses typically provide basic medical care or perform nursing activities delegated by Registered Nurses or Advanced Practice Nurses. An LPN may face disciplinary action if they exceed the scope of the nursing duties that they are permitted to perform or if they do not report unsafe or unethical practices or conditions. Disciplinary action may also be taken in cases involving:

• Unprofessional or Unethical Conduct, Including Sexual Misconduct
• Negligent or Substandard Nursing Practice
• Mental or Physical Impairment Affecting Nursing Practice
• Substance Abuse or Addictions Affecting Nursing Practice
• Failure to Follow the Terms of a Care, Counseling, and Treatment (CCT) Agreement
• Violations of State Statutes or Federal Laws Regarding Patient Confidentiality
• Sister-State Disciplinary Issues
• Failure to Meet Financial Obligations, Including Child Support
  
• Felony or Misdemeanor Convictions
• Arrests for DUI or Related Offenses

An LPN who receives notice of a formal Complaint, an IDFPR investigation, or a disciplinary hearing with the Illinois Board of Nursing may negotiate a Consent Order with an IDFPR prosecutor. However, doing so without the help of an experienced attorney is not recommended. In many cases, prosecutors may include what they claim are "standard" terms and conditions in a Consent Order, and these may have severe and unforeseen consequences to an LPN's license and career.

Our lawyers can help you negotiate a settlement with an IDFPR prosecutor or represent you in a formal hearing or informal conference. With our knowledge of the formal and informal policies and procedures followed in these cases, we can work to achieve the best possible outcome and minimize the discipline to your LPN license.

We have a record of success representing numerous clients against professional license discipline. In one successful case, we defended the license of a former Marine who worked as a nurse in downstate Illinois. He was convicted of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, and the IDFPR sought to have his nursing license suspended. We took the case to trial, where we convinced the Administrative Law Judge to allow our client to keep his license after receiving a simple Reprimand.

Contact an Illinois LPN License Discipline Attorney

If you are facing discipline to your nursing license, you need to work with an attorney who knows how Illinois' laws that apply to your case. At Williams & Nickl, LLC, Edward and Fred understand the statutes in the Illinois Nurse Practice Act (225 ILCS 65, et. seq.), and we can ensure that the rules and procedures defined in the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (20 ILCS 2105/2105-1, et. seq.) and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act (5 ILCS 100/1-1, et. seq.) are followed in any hearings or settlements with the IDFPR.

No matter how serious your situation may seem, our lawyers can work with you to defend your LPN license against disciplinary action. We will provide you with a free, one-hour consultation in which we will review your case, determine the potential types of discipline that may be pursued, and advise you on the most prudent course of action that will allow you to maintain a valid license. In many cases, we are able to help our clients resolve their cases without receiving any public discipline to their license. Contact us today at 312-335-9470 to learn more about how we can help.