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Many people aspire to practice nursing in the state of Texas. Before one is allowed to engage in this profession, it is imperative that he must pass the nursing licensure examination. Needless to say, only those who have nursing licenses can be allowed to provide health care or nursing services to patients. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) governs the RN or LVN nurses in Texas. All professional nurses are expected to follow the administrative rules set by this governmental agency.

Since the number of professional nurses keeps on increasing every year, the government of Texas has enacted certain rules and regulations for the protection not only of the patients but even the nurses themselves. However, there are still many RN or LVN nurses who commit fraudulent acts or violations. This is the primary reason why there are many complaints filed before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). One of the nurses involved in a particular case is Cassie.

What is peculiar in the case of Cassie is that it did not involve any case concerning a patient of the hospital where she worked. What happened in her case was that she defaulted in the payment of her guaranteed student loans. This was a clear violation of Section 57 of the Texas Education Code. The failure of the RN nurse to repay her student loan may have deprived other applicants of funds for nursing school loans.

Under the same law, the non-payment or default on such payment is a ground for the nonrenewal of professional or occupational license.

Sec. 57.491. LOAN DEFAULT GROUND FOR NONRENEWAL OF PROFESSIONAL OR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE. (a) In this section:
(1) “License” means a certificate or similar form of permission issued or renewed by a licensing agency and required by law to engage in a profession or occupation.
(2) “Licensee” means a person to whom a licensing agency issues a license.
(3) “Licensing agency” means a board, commission, department, or other agency in the executive branch of state government that issues or renews a license.
(b) The corporation shall identify the licensing agencies subject to this section and provide written notice to those agencies of the requirements prescribed by this section. Only those licensing agencies that the corporation identifies and that receive such notice are required to carry out this section.
(c) Annually, each licensing agency shall prepare a list of the agency’s licensees and submit the list to the corporation in hard copy or electronic form. Using the submitted lists, the corporation periodically shall:
(1) identify the persons who are in default on loans guaranteed by the corporation; and
(2) provide a list of the names of those persons to the appropriate licensing agencies in hard copy or electronic form.
(d) A person who is in default on a loan may enter an agreement with the corporation for repayment of a defaulted loan as required under this section. The corporation shall provide the person with a certificate certifying that the person has entered a repayment agreement on the defaulted loan.
(e) A licensing agency shall not renew the license of a licensee whose name is on the list provided by the corporation under Subsection (c) unless the licensee presents to the agency a certificate issued by the corporation certifying that:
(1) the licensee has entered a repayment agreement on the defaulted loan; or
(2) the licensee is not in default on a loan guaranteed by the corporation.
(f) Repealed by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 221, Sec. 13(3), eff. September 1, 2005.
(g) A licensing agency shall not renew the license of a licensee who defaults on a repayment agreement unless the person presents to the agency a certificate issued by the corporation certifying that:
(1) the licensee has entered another repayment agreement on the defaulted loan; or
(2) the licensee is not in default on a loan guaranteed by the corporation or on a repayment agreement.
(h) A licensing agency shall provide written notice of the nonrenewal policies established under Subsections (e) and (g) to each applicant for a license or for renewal of a license. The corporation shall provide written notice of those same policies on each loan application form provided by the corporation and on each promissory note signed by a borrower. Failure to provide the notice required by this subsection does not affect the default status of a borrower or the prohibitions on renewal of a license held by a person in default.
(i) A licensing agency shall provide an opportunity for a hearing to a licensee before the agency takes action concerning the nonrenewal of a license under this section.
(j) Each licensing agency shall adopt any rules necessary to carry out the licensing agency’s duties under this section.
(k) The board shall establish procedures to carry out the corporation’s duties under this section.
(l) This section does not apply to the State Securities Board.

The said allegation was fatal to the RN nurse’s license. While the case was being heard by the BON, it was shown that the act of respondent RN nurse was intentional. She refused the payment of the student loans without stating a justifiable cause for doing such. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) did not allow the RN nurse to renew her license on the ground of non-payment of the guaranteed loans obtained.

Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas nurse attorney. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An and text or call attorney Yong 24/7 at (832) 428-4579.