Call our office today to speak with someone about your professional license. Decisions, consent orders, correspondence, decrees, etc. This could be a positive because the standard of proof at these hearings is higher than a preponderance of the evidence and requires evidence that is so clear that it leaves little room for doubt. All rights reserved. West Virginia barred her for five years, Oregon for three, and Minnesota and Texas for one year (NCSBN, n.d.h). As a nonprofit, we rely on donations to help fund our work. Records show he abused alcohol to excess from 2015 to 2017 and has not been compliant with treatment and monitoring in an alternative program run by the Health Assistance InterVention Network since December. Unlocking access to nursing care across the nation [Brochure]. of Public Health410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 13PHOP.O. Nurses are trained to always be mindful of safety and professional ethics. 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. The NPDB tracks data about licensing actions and malpractice suits for all healthcare professionals. Unless otherwise noted, you can republish our stories for free if you follow these rules. If a nurse with a past felony conviction or a guilty plea obtains a license under the original NLC, the nurse remains eligible to hold a multistate privilege under the new eNLC (NCSBN, 2012). (n.d.a). The board revoked the registered nurse license of Amanda Alarcon of Shelton for failing to attend therapy sessions or submit to drug tests, its memorandum of decision said. Board of Nursing Disciplinary Actions. Connecticut Board of Nursing The only non-participants were Alabama and Michigan. The provisions of the eNLC highly reduce the likelihood that public safety will be compromised. Almost all nursing misconduct is addressed through nursing disciplinary action from the state board of nursing or civil lawsuits. In addition, State Boards of Nursing (BON) lacked authority to act against a nurses license if a patient in the state was harmed by a nurse practicing remotely from another state (Texas BON, 2013b). 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. State Disciplines Nurses For Drug, Alcohol Abuse, Myriad Genetics Prequel Prenatal Screening Tests: Allegedly Incorrect Most Of The Time, The Pandemic Changed Their Lives And Brought Them Closer Together, One Way or Another, COVID Will Get You: Uninfected Yet Greatly Affected, Dancing Again: COVID-19 Battle Gives Survivor A New Appreciation For Life. The most crucial part of this process is when it first begins, and there has been a complaint made against you. Identify critical information that writers may have missed. 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. Nurses must also pay for any remedial requirements (such as mandatory education) or substance misuse treatment. Civil Penalty - $560.00, Probation 1 year if 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. If your appeal is successful, you will be able to restore your professional license. The complete DPH COVID-19 toolbox is located at ct.gov/coronavirus. 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. Must complete refresher and NCLEX, Suspended while An RN was more than 30 days delinquent in paying child support. When the BON enacts a disciplinary measure that includes a limitation on the nurses ability to practice, such as a revocation, suspension, or voluntary surrender, the nurse will also be required to limit her nursing practice to her home state during the disciplinary period (NLC Administrators, 2012). Therefore, all disciplinary actions are documented in one depository known as Nursys (NCSBN, 2016). 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. practicing. This is exemplified in Case #1, an LVN with a license from South Carolina and a PTP in Texas. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/enlcnotice.asp, https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol24No02PPT09. When I moved back to Texas permanently a few years later, the reverse was the case. Discipline: Maine State Board of Nursing However, by 2015, the trend had stopped. Copyright 2023 The License Lawyers - Attorney Jay Ruane is reponsible for the content of this advertising. 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. Many times, at this stage, there is something that the board has found that has led them to hold a hearing. The report included 10 recommendations to promote healthcare provider mobility (Donaho, Mudge, & Price, 1997; Pew, 1995). Key Words: multistate compact, disciplinary actions, enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact, Nursing Licensure Compact, Texas Board of Nurse Examiners, out of state, Nursys, privilege to practice, National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), telemedicine. Lead Reporters: Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. Disciplinary actions taken against individuals licensed through the Department of Public Health. The positive is that suspension, probation, and restrictions are often temporary and allow for the license holder to continue their work. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. RN #075930, Sheryl Lacoursiere Board action is required to discipline your nursing license, because only the Board has . People who are at a high risk for severe illness should consider additional measures to minimize their exposure to COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses. Most importantly, this is the opportunity for you to present your defense, with your attorney. 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. (RN/LPN), _____________________________________________, National Council State Boards of Nursing Opioid Toolkit, ______________________________________________, Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 378 - Nursing(Nurse Practice Act), Mandatory Reporters of Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation, Advanced Practice - Independent/Collaborative Practice, Administrative Regulations - Public Health Code, ________________________________________________________, Registered Nurse Educational Program StatisticsREVISED July 2022(pdf), Practical Nurse Educational Program StatisticsREVISED July 2022(pdf) Case #1). 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. (2018a, January 19). What Conduct by a Nurse Licensee Would Allow the Board of Nursing to Connecticut State Library | 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 | 860-757-6500 * Toll-free 866-886-4478Disclaimers & Permissions | Privacy Policy | State of Connecticut Home Page. If you have a professional license and you are worried about losing it, you may be wondering what happens now. Relative to the history of nursing in the United States, the Nursing Licensure Compact is a new phenomenon.Relative to the history of nursing in the United States (US), the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is a new phenomenon. 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). Database of Sanctioned California Nurses - We assembled a database of nearly 2,400 California registered nurses facing discipline between 2002 and Sept. 2009. Reforming health care workforce regulation: Policy considerations for the 21st century: Report of the Taskforce on Health Care Workforce Regulation. Connecticut Health Investigative Team Finally, the ONA opposed the NLC because of the belief that it would shift power and influence from the nurses and the state nurses associations to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators. Find a location that has a supply of COVID-19 therapeutics as part of the Test to Treat initiative here. Mary E. Dietmann, EdD, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNE - (RN Member) After that, she would then be eligible once again for a multistate license (NLC Administrators, 2012). 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). Connecticut Nurse License Defense . During the investigation stage, the agency board that opens the investigation over you can search for information relating to the allegations made against you, but are not limited to issues only related to the complaint. Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing. 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). While nurses may have the privilege to practice in many compact states, they can have only one nursing license.If a nurse moves permanently into a state and fails to apply for that states nursing license but continues to use the compact state PTP, he/she violates the NLC, and can be disciplined by the BON in the state where she now lives. Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. NurseJournal.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. Impact of Automatic Reporting on Disciplinary ActionArticle VI of the eNLC requires that states share freely any information that pertains to disciplinary actions. Real Time Disciplinary Actions Against Registered Nurses for Civil Penalty - $700.00, Reprimand The state must also have the capacity to conduct a federal criminal background check (NCSBN, 2016). In each and every state, there are agencies that regulate and oversee individuals and entities that hold professional licenses to practice or work in a field of work. Gain access to the Connecticut Disciplinary Action Form I with US Legal Forms, one of the most substantial catalogue of legitimate document layouts. Finally, one case demonstrates the impact of a BON investigation on a nurses ability to continue practice. Copies of documents referenced in this report, including Memoranda of Decision following a hearing, Consent Orders, Voluntary Surrenders, and Summary Suspensions are available onthe. The Professional License Discipline Process in Connecticut Their other concern was financial in nature. 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. They feared that states would lose the ability to review and approve all nurses wishing to practice in their jurisdiction. While that may create anxiety for some nurses, it should comfort others that the eNLC will not be an avenue for errant nurses to practice under the radar. Services provided by Nursys include automated license status updates, and regular updates to institutions regarding any changes to their nurses licenses. How can I get a state board to remove a disciplinary action on my name 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. Although quite similar to the original NLC, the eNLC was designed to repeal and replace the existing NLC and implement requirements that would improve confidence and address the issues raised by reluctant stakeholders (Evans, 2015). It is important to keep any and all documentation, dates, video records, witnesses, or any other evidence that was used during the initial hearing. The licensure, certification, and regulation of healthcare professionals was to be examined, with the goal of recommending new approaches. On-Line License Verification. Discipline. Nursing disciplinary action consists of six separate phases. ANNA Journal, 24(5), 507-515. Implications for nurses include the concept that a compact does not affect nurses who only hold one license, and also that idea that greater privileges for nurses bring greater risk as well. Nurse profesionial liability exposure claim report. RN #069635, Probation 6 months Connecticut Board of Nursing People who are at a high risk for severe illness should consider additional measures to minimize their exposure to COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses. This public safety objective is not time-limited. (1997). The state Board of Examiners for Nursing last week disciplined four nurses for drug or alcohol abuse. Their home state licenses would be accepted in all of the NLC states and they would be subject to the laws and nurse practice acts of all the state(s) in which they practiced (NCSBN, 2011, 2016). Criminal convictions also trigger a review. The Nurse Licensure Compact: A historical perspective. So, much like in some of the cases cited above, a nurse who is disciplined in one state can reasonably expect that similar charges will be filed by other states (NCSBN, n.d.d). Legal memorandum to employers [PDF file]. Find Your Nurse Practice Act | NCSBN This, they believed, would dilute the power of the collective voices of Ohio nurses and nurses associations (Ohio Nurses Association, 2017). 2023 American Nurses Association. Probation - 18 months, Reprimand Connecticut Board of Nursing: Licensing Renewal Requirements for CT She voluntarily surrendered her PTP in Texas. Hawaii recently signed an agreement to participate (NCSBN, n.d.c). Specific examples of disciplinary actions and implications for nurses, employers, and educators are presented. Read our recipe for investigating nursing boards' oversight. These penalties included license suspensions, summary suspensions, probation periods, fines, voluntary surrender of license, and even license revocation. 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. In other words, it will not be necessary for the nurse to appear before the BON of the home state or of the states where PTP are held, unless the nurse wishes to offer a defense. The relevant parts of Article III require that nurses must comply with the practice laws in each state where they practice. 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. Retrieved from https://www.nursys.com/EN/ENJurisdictions.aspx, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 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. connecticut board of nursing disciplinary actions. The language used to describe the types of disciplinary actions available to BONs varies according to state law. Contact us with questions or updates. 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. This data should not be used to compare one state against another, because it may not be accurate and it is not adjusted for the number of nurses in each state. For example, a nurse that obtains a conviction of driving under the influence (DUI) is subject both to the penal code of the state, and the disciplinary provisions of the state nurse practice act (NCSBN, n.d.d). Facing Investigations. Connecticut ' s board falls under the Public Health Department budget. Safe, competent nursing practice is grounded in the law as written in the state nurse practice act (NPA) and the state rules/regulations. Young chose not to contest the allegations. It could be because it is not supported, or that JavaScript is intentionally disabled. The state of Connecticut is home to thousands of licensed barbers, cosmeticians, and hairdressers. If you are thinking. In spite of these concerns, as many as 25 states did join the NLC. 2019 and 2018 Disciplinary Action. The board placed the registered nurse (RN) license of Sara J. Smith of Shelton on probation for four years after it found she altered a 2018 prescription for codeine after testing positive for codeine on April 3, 2019, according to a consent order signed by Smith. (n.d.f). LPN #027133, Dianne Powers Since my move to Virginia was permanent, and both Texas and Virginia were compact states, I could only hold a license in my state of residence. 2016 CT.gov | Connecticut's Official State Website, regular Upon moving to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and not being aware of the nursing compact rules, I tried to renew the Texas license. 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. Nurses can face disciplinary action for medical malpractice, substance abuse, and various forms of misconduct. She faced sanctions with multiple states in 2016 based on an event that happened in a telemedicine practice in West Virginia. 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. It also includes restriction of a license where a nurse can continue practicing but under specific conditions, suspension of a license where a nurse can continue practicing after a set period of time, or the permanent loss of a license. It may also result in filing formal charges or assigning the nurse to an alternative-to-discipline program. While living in Tennessee, she contacted West Virginia residents by phone and wrote prescriptions for patients with whom she had no provider/patient relationship. Board of Examiners for Nursing - ct We also analyzed the gap in time between the board's public accusation and disciplinary decision. Below, I will discuss the implications of the NLC for nurses, employers, and educators. Not every nurse or nursing organization greeted the news with excitement. The rules/regulations are found in the sections or chapters of the state administrative code. Probation - 4 years, Reinstated to Although terminology may differ, board disciplinary action affects the nurse's licensure status and ability to practice nursing in the jurisdiction. The board fined RN Luisa Young of Trumbull $2,500, reprimanded her license and placed it on probation for a year. Donaho, B., Mudge, C., & Price, C. A. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/NLC_Key_Provisions-FINAL.pdf, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. These technologies are increasingly being utilized; they are transforming care delivery, and erasing geographical boundaries (NCSBN, 2016, 2017). Find a location that has a supply of COVID-19 therapeutics as part of the Test to Treat initiative here. Key provisions of this compact are reviewed with examples of how it has impacted individual nurses. License Number, Schuler-Blanchette, (n.d.d). Questions can be directed to call Susan Goodness at the Board office, (603) 271-2323.. Our contributing writers leverage diverse educational and professional backgrounds to create content for NurseJournal. After she changed her primary residence to Texas, she continued to practice under a PTP for 3 years. 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. Citation: Oyeleye, O.A., (May 20, 2019) "The Nursing Licensure Compact and Its Disciplinary Provisions: What Nurses Should Know" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. This does not yet determine if the complaint is valid, just whether the board of nursing has jurisdiction. It is not enough to initiate paper work to start the process. Board of Examiners for Nursing 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #13PHO P. O. In. Licensed clinical social workers are one of the most popular career paths for Connecticut residents. The avenue by which an employer may verify multistate licensure is through Nursys (NCSBN, n.d.h). Does this state provide free disciplinary documents online. They are one of the most trusted professions in the country because of their high standards. Civil Penalty - $440.00, Brian Gross The Texas action was a result of Culton intentionally sticking the hand of a co-worker with a syringe needle, a consent order she agreed to said. Once the terms of the disciplinary measures have been satisfied, the original home state may re-issue a multistate license (NLC Administrators, 2012). The following is a listing of public actions taken by the Board of Examiners for Nursing or the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The state board of nursing must report the results of any nursing disciplinary action to Nursys, the national database of nursing licenses and license status, and to the NPDB.