Emergency Suspension Order for Nurses

Do you need to consult with an attorney regarding your nursing license or other professional licensing matter? Call (503) 232-9280 to schedule a free consultation with a nurse’s attorney.

If the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) believes that a nurse has done something so egregious that there needs to be immediate action, the board may seek an Emergency Suspension Order.

Before the OSBN begins the Emergency Suspension Order process, however, the nursing board often offers the nurse the option of signing an “Interim Consent Order.” This is a legal document in which the nurse agrees not to practice during the board’s full investigation.

While an Interim Consent Order may seem like the easiest path to take, it can have far-reaching consequences.  One obvious consequence is the inability to practice.  For that serious reason alone, before signing a nurse would be well advised to consult with an attorney who has experience with nursing license defense.

If a nurse declines to sign an Interim Consent Order, the OSBN may then seek the Emergency Suspension Order.  The nurse has the right to appeal the imposition of such an order.  There is no right to appeal from an Interim Consent Order.

For information about Emergency Suspension Orders and Interim Consent Orders, please contact our office, (503) 232-9280, or e-mail . You can arrange a free consultation with Kevin Keaney, who is an experienced nurse’s attorney.

Please make note: Kevin Keaney has more than 30 years of experience as an attorney, and prior to becoming a lawyer, he earned a BSN and practiced as a nurse for four years. He’s a member of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) and has experience with the Oregon, Washington, and Texas boards of nursing.

Kevin Keaney is an attorney who helps nurses defend their license in Texas, as well as Oregon and Washington.