1. An employee of a medical facility or a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nursing assistant or medication aide - certified who is employed by or contracts to provide nursing services for the medical facility and who believes that he or she has been retaliated or discriminated against in violation of NRS 449.205 may file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction.

2. If a court determines that a violation of NRS 449.205 has occurred, the court may award such damages as it determines to have resulted from the violation, including, without limitation:

(a) Compensatory damages;

(b) Reimbursement of any wages, salary, employment benefits or other compensation denied to or lost by the employee, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nursing assistant or medication aide - certified as a result of the violation;

(c) Attorney’s fees and costs, including, without limitation, fees for expert witnesses; and

(d) Punitive damages, if the facts warrant.

3. The court shall award interest on the amount of damages at a rate determined pursuant to NRS 17.130.

4. The court may grant any equitable relief it considers appropriate, including, without limitation, reinstatement of the employee, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nursing assistant or medication aide - certified and any temporary, preliminary or permanent injunctive relief.

5. If any action to retaliate or discriminate is taken against an employee, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nursing assistant or medication aide - certified within 60 days after the employee, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nursing assistant or medication aide - certified takes any action described in subsection 1 of NRS 449.205, there is a rebuttable presumption that the action taken against the employee, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nursing assistant or medication aide - certified constitutes retaliation or discrimination in violation of NRS 449.205.

6. A medical facility or any agent or employee thereof that violates the provisions of NRS 449.205 is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation. The Attorney General or any district attorney of this State may recover the penalty in a civil action brought in the name of the State of Nevada in any court of competent jurisdiction.

7. Any action under this section must be brought not later than 2 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which the action is brought.

8. As used in this section, “retaliate or discriminate” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 449.205.

(Added to NRS by 2002 Special Session, 17; A 2005, 1518; 2009, 1420; 2011, 1339)