ASNA leaders hail legal plan

Alabama Nurse,  Mar-May 2004  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

'If you have to go to Board, our attorney will go with you.'

The Alabama State Nurses Association's new legal services program is one which every registered nurse should take advantage of through Association membership, according to ASNA leaders.

Under the program, if an ASNA member is brought before the Alabama Board of Nursing for any licensure matter, the ASNA attorney will represent the nurse without charge to the RN.

"What a peace of mind this gives nurses," said Lori Lioce, of Huntsville, ASNA vice president and membership chair. "This is a huge, new added benefit this year. It's comforting knowing that the Association cares enough to provide this service."

By law, the Alabama Board of Nursing is charged with investigating complaints against nurses. Those investigations total in the hundreds each year. Many involve totally unfounded allegations, while others involved simple mistakes and others involve serious acts, such as falsification and substance abuse.

The ASNA membership benefit calls for the Association attorney to intervene on behalf of any ASNA member whose is subject in an investigation if the nurse is a member of the Association when he/she receives the investigation notice from the Board.

"This is an example of how an Association can serve its members," said Lioce. "Worst case scenario, a nurse makes a mistake and has to use this service."

"Whether the matter can be resolved informally or through a hearing, the investigatory process is disturbing and distracting to the nurse," said Don Eddins, JD, the ASNA attorney.

"There is no painless way to resolve such a matter, but ASNA members can be assured that they will have representation," he added.

ASNA President Juanzetta Flowers pointed out that the new benefit is in addition to the existing hour's legal consultation for members each year, rather than as an alternative to it.

"ASNA members can consult with our attorney on any issue. It's not limited to a matter before the Board of Nursing. This is just a new benefit we're pleased to offer," she said.

Added Lioce, "If you have to go to the Board of Nursing, the ASNA attorney will go with you. That's very comforting to our ASNA members."

Copyright Alabama State Nurses' Association Mar-May 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved