Levels of Disciplinary Sanctions - Nursing License

Do you need to consult with an attorney regarding your nursing license or other professional licensing matter? Call (530) 232-9280 to schedule a free consultation with a nurses attorney.

If you have been notified by the Oregon State Board of Nursing that an accusation or allegation has been made against you, your life could feel as if it has been turned upside down.

Maybe you made a mistake. Maybe you didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe you were aware the notice was coming. Maybe you were taken completely by surprise.

In any case, there’s an administrative and also a legal process to go through, and it’s important that you not only know your legal rights, but also what the potential levels of discipline or restrictions on your nursing license could be.

Levels of discipline can vary some from state to state. Below are the different levels of discipline for nurses in the state of Oregon.

Emergency Suspension Order For Nurses
If the state board of nursing believes you’ve committed an egregious violation, it can issue an Emergency Suspension Order. You can also be asked to sign an “interim consent order” in which you agree not to practice during the nursing board’s investigation.

Letter of Concern For Nurses
If the state nursing board disciplines you with a letter of concern, it means that they’ll be keeping an eye on you, but that there’s no discipline and no public record.

Reprimand For Nurses
For minor violations of the Nursing Practice Act, the board of nursing will typically issue a letter of reprimand, which doesn’t include any restrictions on your nursing license.

Probation For Nurses
If the state board of nursing puts you on probation, you’ll still be able to practice as a nurse, but with restrictions that will be in place for a defined period of time.

License Suspension For Nurses
The state board can suspend your nursing license indefinitely, or for a defined period of time. The nursing board can suspend your license as its initial disciplinary action or because you’ve violated the terms of your license probation.

License Revocation For Nurses
Occasionally, in some extreme cases, the state board of nursing will revoke your license.  This means that you will no longer be able to continue practicing as a nurse.

License Reinstatement For Nurses
If your nursing license has been revoked in Oregon, you can then apply for reinstatement after three years.

For information about disciplinary sanctions imposed by the nursing board, or to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer, please call (503) 232-9280, or e-mail us at .  You can learn more about our firm by reading our case studies for nurses we’ve helped to defend.

Please Note: Kevin Keaney is an employment attorney who helps nurses defend their license in Texas, as well as Oregon and Washington. Before becoming a lawyer, he spent over six years as a practicing nurse. He’s a member of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA).