For purposes of sections 38-178, 38-179, and 38-184:

(1) Confidential information means information protected as privileged under applicable law;

(2) Conviction means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere or non vult contendere made to a formal criminal charge or a judicial finding of guilt irrespective of the pronouncement of judgment or the suspension thereof and includes instances in which the imposition or the execution of sentence is suspended following a judicial finding of guilt and the defendant is placed on probation; and

(3) Pattern of incompetent or negligent conduct means a continued course of incompetent or negligent conduct in performing the duties of the profession.