Working up a Licensure Defense Case
This presentation focuses on a proven process that nurse attorneys can follow in deciding whether or not to take on a licensure defense case on behalf of a nurse respondent before their respective state board of nursing. Licensure defense cases involve a nurse or nurse practitioner’s livelihood, and therefore carry a lot of responsibility. Topics include assessing the severity of a case; determining whether the investigation is direct or indirect; what the BON knows versus what you know; preparing for an investigation meeting with the BRN; the impetus of investigation or accusation; clients lying to the board (or their attorney); when to go to hearing versus settlement; when settlement makes sense; malpractice insurance pointers; benefits of NSO; hourly versus flat fee.
Learner Objectives
- Learners will be able to list and explain four different factors to take into account when preparing for an investigation meeting with the BON.
- Leaners will be able to list at least three different factors to consider when deciding the severity of a case
Presenters
Nicholas R. Webb, RN, DNP, ESQ, Partner, Balestra Webb Law, Benicica, CA
Nick is a California licensed attorney and nurse who began his healthcare career as an active duty medic in the United States Air Force. He became an LVN and RN, earning his ASN, BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees while working full-time as a nurse. Nick has significant nursing and legal experience, having worked as a staff nurse, travel nurse, house supervisor, assistant nurse manager, nursing unit manager, director, chief nursing officer, regional director of patient acuity, regional managing director (where he oversaw the largest civilian electronic medical record in the United States), and national executive director for nursing technology. Nick is also on the graduate (doctoral) nursing faculty at the University of San Francisco and the University of California, San Francisco. He is passionate about adolescent mental health, and has served as General Counsel for Seneca Family of Agencies and serves on the board of directors for Koinonia Homes for Teens and the board of directors of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys.
Melanie L. Balestra, NP, ESQ, Partner, Balestra Webb Law, Rancho Mirage, CA
Melanie is a PNP and partner in Balestra Webb Law Office in Rancho Mirage, Newport Beach, and Benicia, California focusing on legal and business issues that affect health care providers and representing them before their Boards. She advises on the legal aspects of starting a practice. She lectures nationally on this subject and liability issues. She is published in Journal for Nurse Practitioners, The Nurse Practitioner and Medscape. She is Past President of the American Association of Nurse Attorneys, the American College of Nurse Practitioners, and the California Coalition of Nurse Practitioners. She is recipient of the Outstanding Health Law and Compliance Section Member from the American Association of Nurse Attorneys in 2016 and the Cynthia Northrup Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Nurse Attorneys in 2021. She is a graduate of Duke University with a BSN, UCLA with a Masters in Nursing, received certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and graduated from Gonzaga University Law School. She is a longtime advocate for full practice authority for nurse practitioners and continues practicing as a PNP at the Laguna Beach Community Clinic. She is an Amazon international best seller of the book Suicide: A Mother’s Journey Through Her Child’s Pain.
Registration Rates
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TAANA Members: $0, free to members
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Non-Members: $39
Not a Member? Click here to join, then follow the instructions in the membership form to sign up for the webinar.
CLE & Nursing CE
This event is approved for CLE with the Texas (pending) and Pennsylvania state bars for live or on-demand participation. This event is approved for Nursing CE with the California Board of Nursing for live or on-demand participation.
Cancellation
No refund due to cancellation. All registrants will have access to a video archive if you are unable to attend in person.
