Reciprocal Enforcement and Other Collateral Issues With Licensure Discipline

1.NPs are more likely to face licensure discipline than a malpractice lawsuit.2.Licensure discipline can temporarily or permanently prevent an NP from practicing.3.Licensure discipline can create other regulatory problems.4.NPs should obtain legal advice as soon as they know they are being investigated.5.Competent legal representation is essential at all stages of investigation.6.NPs must understand the collateral effects of nursing board discipline.

While the fear of liability is generally related to malpractice lawsuits, for nurses, including nurse practitioners (NPs), the greater risk is in licensure discipline. Unlike physicians, NPs are more likely to be disciplined by their board of nursing than they are to be sued in malpractice.1 In addition, licensure discipline can be more consequential than malpractice lawsuits, because licensing boards have the authority to temporarily, or even permanently, separate an NP from practice. Because punitive action by a nursing board can create other problems, it is important to understand the potential effects of having one's license disciplined.