Nurses are trained to always be mindful of safety and professional ethics. Identification of the nurses involved have been replaced by assigned numbers (e.g. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), nursing disciplinary action "affects the nurse's licensure status and ability to practice nursing." Every board and every type of professional license, depending on the field, has a different procedure for which disciplinary action to proceed with. practicing (2011). Nursing faculty will also need only one license to practice in compact states. (2018a, January 19). Retrieved from https://ncsbn.org/compacts.htm, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Lisa S. Freeman, BA - (Public Member) Sexual misconduct (such as engaging in sexual relationships with patients), Boundary violations (such as soliciting or accepting monetary or valuable gifts), Abuse of patients (either physically or verbally), Professional conduct (32.5% of all primary allegations), Documentation errors or omissions account (9.7%), Probation (The nurse may continue to practice, but any further validated complaints will result in more serious nursing disciplinary action. Following some charges against her in Texas. Statutes of limitation are designed for use in civil and criminal litigation to prevent unreasonable delay and the prosecution of stale claims for the purpose of preserving the expectation of private legal rights. Find the right nursing program for you. If you or a loved one is faced with allegations that threaten your professional license, it is important to speak with an attorney to help prepare you for what is to come and give you the best chance of keeping your license. Visit the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels Map for updates. LPN #030756, Nichelle Robinson all disciplinary actions are documented in one depository known as Nursys.Mandatory Reporting Process Regarding Disciplinary ActionsArticle VI of the eNLC requires prompt reporting of any information that results from an investigation of a complaint against a nurse. The Department of Public Health regulates certain professions and licenses individuals working in those professions. investigation is pending, Reprimand Key provisions of this compact are reviewed with examples of how it has impacted individual nurses. During the review, the state board of nursing first decides if the complaint falls under nursing disciplinary actions, that is, if it violates the nurse practice act for that state. The inability to practice when under investigation and the burden of having to defend ones license and ones privilege to practice could take a great toll, both financially and otherwise. It is noteworthy that the nursing profession led the way, among the healthcare professions, in establishing and implementing an interstate practice model.Three years later, on January 1, 2000, NLC officially began when Maryland, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin passed it into law (Texas BON, 2013b). If you are thinking. At the time of this writing, fifty-five jurisdictions, comprising states and territories, were participating in eNotify. Those were violations of a four-year probation that the board imposed in 2017 because she had abused heroin between 2011 and 2014, state records show. (2015a). However, she failed to complete all steps necessary to endorse her license to Texas. (2013b). Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/transcript_NurseLicensureCompact.pdf, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Questions can be directed to call Susan Goodness at the Board office, (603) 271-2323.. State officials said Hansen is now living in California and does not have an active LPN license in Connecticut. The Connecticut board can impose discipline on a nurse licensed in Connecticut if the nurse has been disciplined in other states. Any person with knowledge of a violation of the state's nurse practice act, unethical behavior, or behavior that either endangers a patient or represents a potential danger to patients can file a complaint with the state board of nursing. Some of the features on CT.gov will not function properly with out javascript enabled. Copyright 2023, Connecticut Health I-Team. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/11945.htm, Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators. References, The Regulatory Dilemma Surrounding Interstate Practice, Nursing Regulation for the New Millennium: The Mutual Recognition Model, The Utah Experience: Adopting the Nursing Regulation Interstate Compact. The board fined RN Luisa Young of Trumbull $2,500, reprimanded her license and placed it on probation for a year. Many times, at this stage, there is something that the board has found that has led them to hold a hearing. (2016, October) Disciplinary action 10/2016. At a hearing, there will usually be a panel of board members who will hear the evidence against you that was produced in the investigation. The only non-participants were Alabama and Michigan. The Conn. Health I-Team is dedicated to producing original, responsible, in-depth journalism on key issues of health and safety that affect our readers, and helping them make informed health care choices. 2019 and 2018 Disciplinary Action. While nursing mistakes or misconduct may lead to other consequences, such as employer reprimands, terminations, civil suits, or criminal charges, nurse disciplinary action directly affects a nurse's license. Complete the mandatory pre-license education hours (RN and LPN) or Connecticut School of Health Professions equivalent coursework to be accepted by the Connecticut Board of Nursing. This is exemplified in Case #1, an LVN with a license from South Carolina and a PTP in Texas. The Nurse Licensure Compact: A historical perspective. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/enlcnotice.asp, https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol24No02PPT09. After the investigation, the board of nursing may decide to close the case if the complaint was found to be not valid. You may ask how another board of nursing would find out about a discipline in another state. Additionally, North Dakota, Vermont, Oregon, and Washington, also took disciplinary action against her license; and she also voluntarily surrendered her license in those states (NCSBN, n.d.h; Texas BNE, 2016). At this point, it is critical to involve counsel in the investigation and complaint stage because they can help advise you and present information to the Board that could persuade them to dismiss the case or take no action. Civil Penalty - $200.00, Ellen Sollazzo Furthermore, a compact state may issue a single-state license to a nurse who resides in its jurisdiction but does not qualify for a multistate license, such as a nurse whose permanent address is in a foreign country (Ridenour, 2011; NLC Administrators, 2012). Copies of documents referenced in this report, including Memoranda of Decision following a hearing, Consent Orders, Voluntary Surrenders, and Summary Suspensions are available onthe. Implications of the Compact for EmployersAlthough it used to be sufficient to verify a nurses license with the state board of nursing, it is no longer so. . This public safety objective is not time-limited. Connecticut Board of Nursing Minimum Requirements. However, Connecticut can issue a summary suspension, which suspends a persons license before giving any notice or a hearing if they feel there is a risk to the safety of the public before having a hearing. This means that an event in another state could have an impact on the practice and availability of their nursing employees (NCSBN, n.d.d). Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/671.htm, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (n.d.h). Under this rule, the state in which nurses obtain a license is considered the primary residence or home state. Therefore, there is no reason for such a nurse to be concerned about disciplinary provisions of the multistate compact. It will not be helpful for your situation if you are more concerned with apologizing and speaking out of emotion than cooperating with the board and the investigation. Read our recipe for investigating nursing boards' oversight . Furthermore, they expressed concern about some inconsistency between some state regulations and the NLC requirements. Uniform licensure requirements for a multistate license [PDF file]. Reprimand, Reprimand Probation - 4 years QuickConfirm License Verification. Donaho, B., Mudge, C., & Price, C. A. Connecticut licensed practical nurse candidates must have a post-secondary education that leads to a . Connecticut Health Investigative Team The state Medical Examining Board ranked 37 th in the nation in the annual rate of serious disciplinary actions the board took against physicians. This does not preclude a non-compact state from issuing a single-state license to that nurse during the same period. (n.d.g). Read our recipe for investigating nursing boards' oversight . of Public Health 410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 13PHO P.O. All rights reserved. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 6(3), 11-16. This act requires systematic oversight of regulations. Some law firms specialize in medical disciplinary actions. Although terminology may differ, board disciplinary action affects the nurse's licensure status and ability to practice nursing in the jurisdiction. Lead Reporters: Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber. License lookup page How to request records: Send a written request to Bonnie Kuchta at the Maryland Board of Nursing, 4140 Patterson Avenue,Baltimore, MD 21215-2254. Probation - 4 years, Reinstated to Explore our full list of Integrity Network members. When nurses are disciplined in a compact state, the action directly impacts their practice in all the compact states (NLC Administrators, 2012; Texas BNE, n.d.). It may involve interviews with the nurse, patients, and witnesses; asking for a written response; and reviews of documentation and other evidence. January 19, 2018 marked the date that multistate licensure practice via a compact would no longer be available to nurses whose states did not switch to the eNLC. Connecticut. The board revoked the licensed practical nurse license of Laurie Davidson of Bolton after finding that she failed to properly document medical records while working in 2015 as a nurse at Walnut Hill Care Center in New Britain. Even after due process is done and there is a negative result, there is still a change to appeal the decision. In other words, the PTP is only used in a state other than the primary residence. For example, this authors original nursing license was obtained in the State of Texas. Another caution: Since September 2009, some states may have gone back and entered old actions they took against nurses. She had initiated the paperwork to change her primary residence to Texas and was issued an Agreed Eligibility Order by the Texas BNE. This case clearly invalidates the notion that the NLC allows nurses to fly under the radar when they practice on a compact license. Nursing disciplinary action that includes license suspension or revocation is rare. The impact of a criminal conviction is also presented. They also believed that there was a lack of clarity regarding how to check on nurses disciplinary infractions in remote states. How does nursing disciplinary action work? Such was Case #6, a registered nurse licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a PTP in Texas. Retrieved from https://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Interim_Agendas_Minutes_Exhibits/Exhibits/Lasers/E011008E.pdf, Ridenour, J. She was given the liberty, however, to seek a single-state license from a non-compact until she had fulfilled the conditions of her disciplinary sanctions. Therefore, if a Board begins an investigation into allegations against you and wishes to pursue a license revocation, you are entitled to a notice of the complaint against you and an opportunity to defend your property interest in your license. Their other concern was financial in nature. Records show that Kendrick, who also holds a nursing license in Nevada, tested positive for marijuana and was reprimanded by Nevada officials. dissatisfaction regarding the lack of easy mobility for healthcare professionals emerged from many sources.After a while, dissatisfaction regarding the lack of easy mobility for healthcare professionals emerged from many sources. (2017, March). Disciplinary action included a reprimand, a fine, license suspension for 12 months, and a 58-month probationary status of license due to the drug-related misconduct to which he stipulated. Civil Penalty - $440.00, Brian Gross Not every nurse or nursing organization greeted the news with excitement. The appeal process is the opportunity to go in front of the board and refute the charges against you or the disciplinary action against you. Name index by occupation available for select occupations. This action may be revised after the full investigation. Registered Nurse Educational Program Statistics, Practical Nurse Educational Program Statistics, Adjustment of insulin by school nurses with parental input. Copyright 2023 The License Lawyers - Attorney Jay Ruane is reponsible for the content of this advertising. In spite of these concerns, as many as 25 states did join the NLC. RN #R40359 Evans, S. (2015). Actual cases of disciplinary actions against nurses are used in this article; several measures have been taken to preserve anonymity and confidentiality. These penalties included license suspensions, summary suspensions, probation periods, fines, voluntary surrender of license, and even license revocation. Amidst concerns that the NLC did not successfully guarantee the competence of nurses who practiced across state lines, membership in the compact stalled after the twenty-fifth state joined. APRN 006157, 01/16/2019 Due process is the right to notice and a hearing. NCLEX RN/LPN First Time Pass Rates- REVISED May 2022, Patricia C. Bouffard, RN, D.N.Sc.- (RN Member, Chair) As part of the measures to protect the public, the uniform license requirements also state that when an applicant seeks initial licensure or licensure by endorsement, the states must obtain the applicants criminal history record through fingerprints or biometric data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the state (NCSBN, n.d.j). It could be because it is not supported, or that JavaScript is intentionally disabled. - A listing of disciplinary actions taken against all licensed professionals and organizations. This act requires systematic oversight of regulations. If they do not, that is grounds for a complaint against their license. (n.d.b). The board also placed the licenses of the following nurses on probation for four years and ordered them to pass random drug and alcohol tests: LPN Tammy Piccirillo of Seymour who, according to a consent order she signed, abused opiates from 2017 to 2018. Implications of the Compact for EducatorsEducators are not exempt from licensure requirements.Educators are not exempt from licensure requirements. DISCIPLINARY ACTION -License suspended. The American Academy of Nursing accepts scholarship applications for the Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity, Claire M. Fagin Fellowship Program. Explore NCSBN through the years. She received disciplinary action by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (BNE), for failing to obtain a Texas license after she moved from South Carolina to Texas. (2012). Where prelicensure nursing programs offer courses to students outside of their jurisdiction, nursing faculty may need to obtain a license in every state in which the students are enrolled for didactic or clinical courses. (n.d.f). Unfortunately, if your license has been suspended or revoked, you will need to immediately cease practicing professionally until the matter is resolved. Most of the frequently asked for services are listed in the left margin of this page. When there is suspected misconduct from nurses, they can be investigated by the Department of Public Health, the Board of Nursing Examiners, the Department of Consumer Protection, or other licensing agencies. For example, Case #4 was a registered nurse with a license from Kentucky and a PTP in Texas, who was convicted of DUI and possession of marijuana, both of which were misdemeanor offenses. Box 340308Hartford, CT 06134-0328, Phone: 860.509.7624860.509.7603 (for testing candidates only)Fax: 860.509.7553Online: http://www.state.ct.us/dph/ Contact Person: Jennifer L. Filippone, Chief, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section. However, by 2015, the trend had stopped. Interested in a conference call with reporters Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber? Such actions would be unlawful and would violate public policy, since the nurse practice acts prohibit a nurse from holding more than one license under the eNLC (NLC Administrators, 2013). Some of the features on CT.gov will not function properly with out javascript enabled. In a similar scenario, Case #2, an LVN with a license from Virginia, with a PTP in Texas, was charged with practicing without a valid license in 2016. They issue decisions, consent orders, and compliance letters related to these investigations. Nurses may and often do get a lawyer during nursing disciplinary action, especially if the potential action includes a suspended or revoked license. our recipe for investigating nursing boards' oversight, See the numbers for every state's serious disciplinary actions, discuss their reporting on delinquent nurses, Investigate Your State's Oversight of Health Care Professionals. Reporting & enforcement. COVID-19 Community Levels Update, April 14, 2023: The CDC has listed all eight Connecticut counties in the Low/Green category as part of its weekly Community Levels update. According to the NPDB, there were 18,145 adverse actions against nursing licenses in 2021, while there are more than 3.8 registered nurses alone. APRN #003861, Nicholas Lewonczyk NurseJournal.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. It is important to remember to be cooperative and not appear resistant to the board. This license switch must be done in a timely manner. Try to remain calm and cooperative but careful not to expose more than what is asked of you. State boards of nursing provide the information through the Nursys eNotify program. Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing. (One of the reasons many nurses protested the ReDonda Vaught trial and verdict is that they feared it would have an effect on self-reporting or reporting colleagues.). The Board of Examiners for Nursing on Wednesday disciplined 10 nurses, including revoking the licenses of three nurses and imposing fines on two others. Frequently asked questions - licensure. This prompted the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to take some corrective action. Disciplinary actions by state boards of nursing are shared with other boards of nursing across state lines through various means, one being the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's Disciplinary Data Bank established in 1981. (Texas BNE, n.d.). If there has been a hearing and you have received a notice and information on a hearing, the Board has chosen to move forward with the complaint against you. (2022). The most crucial part of this process is when it first begins, and there has been a complaint made against you. The report included 10 recommendations to promote healthcare provider mobility (Donaho, Mudge, & Price, 1997; Pew, 1995). It is not enough to initiate paper work to start the process. Check with each state before using these figures in a story. Does this state provide free disciplinary documents online. 56 Nursys e-Notify boards of nursing. License Number, Schuler-Blanchette, Employers may not require such from their employees, nor should they require that prospective employees using a PTP also apply for a license in the employers state. We want this page to have the latest information about Connecticut's nursing boards, and we want your help. (https://c-hit.org/2019/05/15/state-disciplines-10-nurses-revokes-3-licenses/). Licensure compacts. The Department investigates complaints made against licensed individuals and may take disciplinary action against them. Civil Penalty - $660.00, Reprimand Disciplinary actions may alsobe viewed the Department of Public Health's Regulatory Action Reports. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/NLC_Key_Provisions-FINAL.pdf, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Sign up here. 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/674.htm, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (Texas BNE, n.d.). Contact us with questions or updates. connecticut board of nursing disciplinary actions. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nurses can also appeal nursing disciplinary actions and, depending on the specific action, may later appeal for restoration of a revoked license. She also has legal experience in assisting nurses with BNE disciplinary matters. Saad L. (2022). Article III also grants compact states the authority to take disciplinary action against a nurses privilege to practice (PTP) status when the nurse violates the state laws and the state nurse practice act. Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134-0308 Reporting a Health Care Complaint Mandatory Reporting of Impaired Practitioners Nursing Scope of Practice/Nursing School Questions Phone: 860-509-7555 Licensure/Examination Information Phone: 860-509-7603 - Menu Option 2 Fax: 860-509-8457 Almost all nursing misconduct is addressed through nursing disciplinary action from the state board of nursing or civil lawsuits. The board fined RN Nikita Gena Culton of Katy, Texas $500 and reprimanded her RN license because, a consent order said, she failed to acknowledge that she had been disciplined in Texas when she applied for her Connecticut nursing license in 2018. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/discipline_and_complaints_disciplinary_action_10012016.asp, Texas Board of Nursing. If you have a vested property interest in a license, such as a medical or professional license, you are entitled to administrative due process. NLC model legislation [PDF file]. Please visit covidtests.gov to request four free COVID-19 self-test kits from the Federal Government. This page has information and updates on nursing boards and regulation specific to Colorado. . First, it is important to remember that the multistate NLC does not change anything for a nurse who obtains one license and does not seek to move to or to practice in another state (NCSBN, n.d.d). It must be completed within the required deadline. After our report, most of the board and its executive officer either resigned or were removed. It seems that JavaScript is not working in your browser. A fine, if included, may range from $300 to $1000, or more, depending on the individual circumstances of the case. The boards memorandum of decision says that Francis, who previously lived in Colchester, used controlled substances to excess in 2016 and 2017. Renew or Reinstate, 8 hours of supervised VACATED 07/17/2019, Agreement not to A consent order Hansen agreed to said that she repositioned the child in an aggressive and rough manner and failed to properly suction the patients airway. The State of Connecticut is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. States that have not subscribed to the NLC continue to issue single-state licenses; and a nurse may hold as many of those single state licenses as desired, in addition to holding a compact license (Ridenour, 2011). Military brass, judges among professions at new image lows. (2017). Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing Dept. The board, after hearing all the evidence, will make a decision to move forward with disciplinary action that could include suspension, probation, revocation, or other restrictions. Nurse Licensure Compact myths & facts [PowerPoint slides]. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); On a bustling Friday morning, the aroma of rice and beans wafts through a cloud of hairspray in Romys Beauty Salon in Meriden. However, if the faculty is in a compact state, and the student is in a remote compact state, the multistate license will suffice. 1 Filing a Complaint Any person with knowledge of a violation of the state's nurse practice act, unethical behavior, or behavior that either endangers a patient or represents a potential danger to patients can file a complaint with the state board of nursing. The significance of the implementation date is that it was the date by which nurses who possessed multistate licenses were able to begin practicing in eNLC states (NCSBN, 2018a). Please visit covidtests.gov to request four free COVID-19 self-test kits from the Federal Government. Nearly 100 nurses also faced disciplinary action 2018. Department of Public Health Regulatory Reports Disciplinary actions taken against individuals licensed through the Department of Public Health. As a nonprofit, we rely on donations to help fund our work. each nurse must do due diligence to confirm a specific state's regulations.These cases illustrate that a nurse in a compact state can only hold one license and that must change if her residence changes. (n.d.d). The best defense is to know and follow your states nurse practice act and discuss questions with a supervisor. For example, the length of time for which she was barred from practice was different from state to state respectively. The state Board of Examiners for Nursing last week disciplined four nurses for drug or alcohol abuse. It is noteworthy that the nursing profession led the way, among the healthcare professions, in establishing and implementing an interstate practice model (NCSBN, 2018a). California Discipline Delayed - Our analysis found that California took three years, on average, to discipline errant nurses. Retrieved from https://www.nursys.com/EN/ENJurisdictions.aspx, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Licensed clinical social workers are one of the most popular career paths for Connecticut residents. LPN Sandra Rowe of Yantic section of Norwich, who drank alcohol in 2014 while working as a private duty nurse in a patients home, a consent order she signed said. In Case #3, a registered nurse from the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a PTP in Texas, the timeline requirement for endorsing a PTP to a license was in issue in 2013. Once the Virginia license was granted, the Texas license became invalid. Probation 1 - year, Reinstated to Probation - 1 year Davidson has an 18-year history of substance abuse and was suspected of taking excessive amounts of drugs from Walnut Hill, the boards memorandum of decision said. Many nurses protested and even quit after she was found guilty, alarmed at the criminalization of medical mistakes. Each member state may issue a single state license to such an applicant, upon consideration of each individual case. The issue of making any and all board disciplinary actions public information, easily found on the internet with a . This does not yet determine if the complaint is valid, just whether the board of nursing has jurisdiction. Disciplinary action included license suspension. Kelman B, et al. It seems that JavaScript is not working in your browser. It has become necessary to ensure that a nurses license is unrestricted in her home state and/or that it includes multi-state privileges to work in the employers own state, if necessary. https://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/law/state-agency-decisions, Get a Library Card & Use or Borrow Materials, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Braille and Audio Reading Downloand (BARD), Connecticut Volunteer Services for the Blind & Handicapped, Inc. (CVSBH), Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board, The Public Records of the State of Connecticut, Commission of Human Rights and Opportunities, Brief History of the Department of Public Health, Department of Public Health Regulatory Reports, Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. medication administration, February 6, 2013 Consent Order remains in effect no additional disciplinary terms, Probation which terminates upon successful completion of coursework, Probation 1 Year which terminates upon completion of the supervised medication administration and the coursework, Decisions and Orders - March, April, May and June 2013, Voluntary Agree Not to Review or Reinstate, (1995). According to the NCSBN, this represents less than 1% of all nursing licenses. Several Connecticut nurses have been disciplined for abusing opioids, including buprenorphine. However, even when nurses practice in a remote location from the patient, they are subject to disciplinary measures both by the state where the patient is located, and by their home state (NCSBN, 2017). It must be completed within the required deadline.The paper work and change of license must also occur within a specified time. Although the NLC makes nursing practice across state lines more uniform and less costly, it could also have a serious impact on a nurses ability to practice, especially if the nurse is under investigation or is disciplined by a state BON. When I moved back to Texas permanently a few years later, the reverse was the case. Fines or civil penalties apply to several violations, but they are common in cases where a nurse committed fraud or otherwise gained financially from their violation. Limitations on Nursing Practice Due to Disciplinary ActionThe singular fact that an investigation is initiated could immediately limit a nurses opportunity to practice.The singular fact that an investigation is initiated could immediately limit a nurses opportunity to practice. NurseJournal.org is an advertising-supported site. The infraction is handled as if the offense took place in their jurisdiction, even if it happened in a remote location (NCSBN, 2017). License Some nurses and nursing organizations, such as the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA), were reluctant and were vocal with their concerns.
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