Managing Stress During a Professional License Defense Investigation in Minnesota

By Melissa Heinlein, Esq.

As a professional license defense attorney, I understand the immense stress that comes with being investigated by your Minnesota professional licensing board. It can feel as if your entire career is hanging in the balance. However, there are ways to manage this stress and navigate the process of a professional license   […]   Read More »

By Melissa Heinlein, Esq.

I am amazed at how few licensed nurses, social workers, and other licensed professionals obtain and carry a personal professional liability insurance policy. If you are wondering about whether obtaining your own professional liability insurance is worth it, the answer is always a resounding YES! Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions I hear as a professional license defense attorney.

Doesn't my employer   […]   Read More »

Three Things to Know if your Medical Practice is Under Investigation

As a Minnesota nurse license lawyer, my clients often ask me why they are being investigated by their licensing board. Many people don't realize that Minnesota licensing boards are complaint-driven. In other words, your licensing board does not go out looking for improper behavior on its own. Rather, your board relies on others   […]   Read More »

By Melissa Heinlein, Esq.

The first question my clients have when they are notified of a Minnesota Board of Nursing investigation into their practice is, "Am I going to lose my license?" It's important to know that revocation of a license is just one possible (and rare) outcome, and only comes up in the most extreme circumstances. So,   […]   Read More »

By Melissa Heinlein, Esq.

I can't tell you how many times I have been asked this question by prospective clients who call for a consultation after they have been notified by the Minnesota Board of Nursing that their nursing license is under investigation. When you receive allegations from your licensing board, it can be scary, confusing, stressful and create feelings of uncertainty about your future, both professionally and financially. Hiring   […]   Read More »

By Melissa Heinlein, Esq.

Your licensing board is not the only Minnesota agency that may become involved in your practice. The Department of Human Services (DHS) is charged with investigating individuals in direct-contact professions who may have harmed a vulnerable person. As licensed medical professionals or others that work with vulnerable adults or children, you are likely a mandated reporter and must alert DHS of any instances of   […]   Read More »

By Melissa Heinlein, Esq.

When I am contacted by a licensed professional who is having issues with their employer or their board surrounding mental health or chemical dependency, the Health Professionals Services Program (HPSP) will always come up in our first conversation.

The Health Professionals Services Program was put in place over two decades ago to protect Minnesota citizens by providing confidential monitoring for health care workers who have   […]   Read More »

By Melissa Heinlein, Esq.

For nearly ten years I have been representing Minnesota nurses, including RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, who describe their work environments as hectic, under-staffed, and poorly supervised. Too frequently this is how nurses describe their work environments at our Minnesota nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. You nurses have a demanding job, both physically and emotionally. I appreciate your work and want to be sure   […]   Read More »