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Revocation of Nurses’ Licenses: How Does it Happen?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2021

Sarah D. Cohn
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Extract

Even though physicians, lawyers, dentists, school teachers, life insurance brokers, and peddlers were licensed in the United States as early as 1890, nursing occupational licensure did not begin until 1938, when New York became the first state to pass such a law. By 1962, eight states had mandatory licensing laws, and sixteen more had nursing boards which claimed that licensure was mandatory.

Today every state requires that nurses who practice within its jurisdiction possess licenses. Since the purpose of nursing licensure is protection of the public, the state may require qualifications which are reasonably related to the practice of nursing. A license, because it is granted upon condition, is not a permanent right, and the state may revoke it if the licensee does not continue to meet licensing standards. The state also has discretion to use remedies less extreme than revocation. It may limit or suspend the license, and/or fine or reprimand the nurse.

Type
NLE Rounds
Information
Law, Medicine and Healthcare , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , February 1983 , pp. 22 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics

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