Virginia Law

The board has the authority to deny, revoke, or suspend a certificate issued, or to otherwise discipline a certificate holder upon proof that the certificate holder has violated any of the provisions of § 54.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia. For the purpose of establishing allegations to be included in the notice of hearing, the board has adopted the following definitions:

1. Fraud or deceit in order to procure or maintain a certificate shall mean but shall not be limited to:

a. Filing false credentials;

b. Falsely representing facts on an application for initial certification, reinstatement or renewal of a certificate; or

c. Giving or receiving assistance in taking the state examination.

2. Unprofessional conduct shall mean but shall not be limited to:

a. Performing acts beyond those authorized for practice as a nurse aide or an advanced certified nurse aide as defined in Chapter 30 (§ 54.1-3000 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, and beyond those authorized by the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) or by provisions for delegation of nursing tasks in Part VI (18VAC90-19-240 et seq.) of 18VAC90-19.

b. Assuming duties and responsibilities within the practice of a nurse aide or an advanced certified nurse aide without adequate training or when competency has not been maintained;

c. Obtaining supplies, equipment or drugs for personal or other unauthorized use;

d. Falsifying or otherwise altering client or employer records, including falsely representing facts on a job application or other employment-related documents;

e. Abusing, neglecting, or abandoning clients;

f. Having been denied a license or certificate or having had a license or certificate issued by the board revoked or suspended;

g. Giving to or accepting from a client property or money for any reason other than fee for service or a nominal token of appreciation;

h. Obtaining money or property of a client by fraud, misrepresentation, or duress;

i. Entering into a relationship with a client or the client's family that constitutes a professional boundary violation in which the nurse aide uses his professional position to take advantage of the vulnerability of a client or his family, to include actions that result in personal gain at the expense of the client, an inappropriate personal involvement or sexual conduct with a client;

j. Violating state laws relating to the privacy of client information, including § 32.1-127.1:03 of the Code of Virginia; or

k. Providing false information to staff or board members during the course of an investigation or proceeding.

3. For the purposes of interpreting provisions of subdivision 7 of § 54.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia, a restriction on nurse aide certification shall be interpreted as having a finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of patient property made in another state or being placed on the abuse registry in another state.