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VOLUME 2 { NO 3} EDITION 6 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMMER 06 CARDLESS LICENS& URE & LISTING SYSTEM PL ANNED FOR JAN. 2007 SLATE OF CANDIDATESFOR 2 0 0 6 I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote SUMMER 2006 BULLETIN NC BOARD OF NURSING Nursing Bulletin is the official publication of the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Office Location 3724 National Drive, Ste 201 Raleigh, NC 27612 Mailing Address P. O. Box 2129 Raleigh, NC 27602 Telephone ( 919) 782- 3211 Fax ( 919) 781- 9461 Automated Verification ( 919) 881- 2272 Website www. ncbon. com Office Hours 8 a. m. to 5 p. m., Monday through Friday Board Chair Beverly Foster, PhD, RN Executive Director Polly Johnson, RN, MSN, FAAN Editor David Kalbacker Artists Paulette Young Photography DayMeetsNight Photography Brian Strickland Mission Statement The North Carolina Board of Nursing is committed to protecting the health and well- being of the public through regulating the deliv-ery of safe, effective nursing care. Advertisements contained here-in are not necessarily endorsed by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertise-ments for the Nursing Bulletin. All art ( photos, paintings, draw-ings, etc.) contained in this publi-cation is used under contractual agreement. 123,000 copies of this document were printed and mailed for a cost of $. 12 per copy The North Carolina Board of Nursing is an equal opportunity employer. CREATED BY: Publishing Concepts, Inc. 14109 Taylor Loop Road Little Rock, AR 72223 Virginia Robertson, President vrobertson@ pcipublishing. com FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Jane Coker jcoker@ pcipublishing. com 501.221.9986 • 800.561.4686 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC DEPARTMENTS: 6 l e t t e r s t o t h e e d i t o r 7 f r o m t h e c h a i r 8 f r o m t h e e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r 25 S u m m a r y o f A c t i o n s 28 t h e B r e a k R o o m 29 C l a s s i f i e d s 30 2 0 0 6 W o r k s h o p R e g i s t r a t i o n F o r m VOLUME 2 { NO 3 } EDITION 6 Table of AFQ ELECTION INCENTIVES FOR 2006 Workshop on Addressing Chemical Abuse/ Dependency Among Nurses 16 12 George named Director of Education/ Practice Department 13 15 Frequently Asked Questions C a r d l e s s L i c e n s u r e & L i s t i n g S y s t e m P l a n n e d f o r J a n . 2 0 0 7 19 21 I n t e r e s t e d i n C a m p N u r s i n g ? 17 SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR 2006 26 Numbers Support Rem e d i a t i o n I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote Stanley Receives Employee Excellence Award 6 CONTENTS s Publications well received Your publications are well received in our community. ANNA NICHOLS Branch Librarian Charles H. Stone Memorial Library Pilot Mountain, NC More modern and appealing Bulletin Thank you for the new, more modern and appealing Nursing Bulletin. I have received the Nursing Bulletin for nearly eleven years. The recent changes to a more magazine- style format have been very welcome. I enjoy browsing through the informa-tion that is important to me as a registered nurse here in North Carolina, but I have to admit that I enjoy the cartoons and the advertisements too. MINDY ROBINSON, RN Send letters to: Editor, Nursing Bulletin, North Carolina Board of Nursing, P. O. Box 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602- 2129 or Email, david@ ncbon. com e t t e r s t o t h e EDITO R L { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E D I T O R ‘ sNOTE Newspapers throughout the state recently reported on the poor voter turnout for the May primary elections. Now North Carolina nurses are again asked to elect members to the Board of Nursing. Make the effort to vote. Information about each candidate is included in this issue, and a Candidate Forum is available beginning June 30, 2006. Reverse the trend. Don’t let others speak for you. Online voting takes only minutes. Also, remember the incentive spa samplers: Someone has to win them— ask Joyce Norton, RN, winner of one of last year’s samplers! You can win only if you VOTE! I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote The 2006 recipient of the Board’s Employee Excellence Award is Jean Stanley, administrative assistant in the Education/ Practice Department. Stanley has more than 20 years of experience with the Board. She routinely deals with the state’s Rules Review Commission and works with advanced practice nurses and mid-wives throughout the state. Her dedication to customer service and her overall knowl-edge of the Board contribute significantly to helping the Board achieve its mission. The award recognizes the outstanding achievements of Board staff. Recipients are nominated by staff members. Congratulations, Jean Stanley! StanleyRECEIVES EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE AWARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC f r o m t h e C h a i r Greetings from the Chair Let me take this opportunity to encourage you to vote in the election of new Board Membership. We have three positions open this year: RN Staff Nurse, RN Nurse Educator at the Associate Degree or Diploma level, and LPN. The candi-date’s forum web cast will be available to you on the Board website at www. ncbon. com beginning June 30, 2006. In this web cast, you will be able to learn more about the candidate; their professional preparation and experiences, their beliefs about nursing practice, and their understanding of the contributions they might make to the functioning of your Board. I encourage you to study the candidates, and then…. VOTE!!! The electronic voting system will be open July 1 through August 15, 2006. It is quick and easy! Assuring continued competence of practicing nurses has been an important issue for regulatory boards in recent years, and North Carolina is no exception. In 2001 the Board charged a workgroup with the development of our response; and in 2003 and 2004 a pilot of both the process and tools occurred. In July 2005, the General Assembly enacted legislation to incorporate continued competence into the NC licensure/ renewal process, and these rules will be implemented beginning in July 2006. If you haven’t attended a workshop on continued competence in NC, you might want to register for sessions in Wilmington ( July 27), Asheville ( September 7) or Greenville ( October 18). If none of these dates fit your calendar, you can download the continuing competence web cast for self- study. Go to http:// www. ncbon. com/ prac- contcompwcast. asp Best wishes to you all for an enjoyable summer of work and leisure, good weath-er and great times with friends and family. Beverly Foster, PhD, RN 8 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . f r o m t h e E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r All of us in health care professions as well as the general public are concerned about patient safety in our complex health care delivery environment. Since the 1999 Institute of Medicine’s report – To Err is Human, there have been several state and nation-al initiatives to address the need for quality improvement in how care is deliv-ered. These initiatives, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Saving 100,000 Lives Campaign have focused primarily on improving our sys-tems of care. Since our first nursing laws in 1903, our Board of Nursing has been committed to enhancing the delivery of safe patient care through standard setting for individual licensees, for educational programs preparing individuals for licensure and for remediation or removal of unsafe practitioners. In January 2006, our Board of Nursing adopted its next 4- year Strategic Plan with the primary strategic initiatives to: ( 1) establish the Board of Nursing as a leader in patient safety; ( 2) maintain excellence in nursing regulation; ( 3) support the mobility of the nurse workforce while maintaining public protection; and ( 4) increase the congruence of education, practice and regulation for all levels of nursing care providers. Some of the activities that will support the achievement of these ini-tiatives include partnering with other health- related organizations to promote a learning and quality improvement culture, collecting and disseminating data to support patient safety decisions, implementing continued competence standards for all licensees, evaluating the current and evolving scopes of practice of all levels of licensees in relation to their educational preparation and licensure requirements, and developing a transition to practice model for new graduates entering the nursing workforce. Threaded throughout the Board’s focus on these strategic initiatives is our commitment to making the necessary regulatory changes that will support the delivery of safe, effective nursing care consistent with our Mission and Vision. As I review the commitment our Board has made to patient safety, I am reminded of the critical role our Board has in pro-tecting the public. Both our Board members and staff are fully committed to doing the “ right thing” for the public. I ask that each of you who are licensed nurses do the “ right thing” by participating in the election of Board members to assure that we maintain excellence in nursing regulation in North Carolina. See you at the Poles! Polly Johnson, RN, MSN, FAAN 12 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wo r k s h o p o n ADDRESSING Chemical Abuse/ Dependency A M O N G N U R S E S Date and Place Thursday, September 28, 2006 Women’s Hospital Education Center, Classrooms 1 & 2, Greensboro, N. C. The half- day program explores the issue of chemical abuse and dependency of nurses. The program will identify signs of chemical abuse from varied prospective areas along with a focus on the who, when and how of addiction. Issues involving treatment and re- entry into practice along with the best practices for healthcare facilities to secure controlled sub-stances will be discussed. A nurse with personal experience in the Alternative Program for Chemical Dependency sponsored by the N. C. Board of Nursing will share her story. Objectives 1. Describe the cycle of addiction 2. Identify signs of possible chemical abuse/ dependency in nurses 3. Describe professional reporting responsibilities and potential outcomes 4. Recognize issues related to re- entry into practice 5. Identify best practices related to reducing the potential for diversion Agenda 8: 00 – 8: 30am Registration ($ 50.00) 8: 30 – 8: 45am Welcome/ Opening Remarks ( Kay McMullan RN, Director of Investigation/ Monitoring) 8: 45 – 9: 15am The Who, When and How of Addiction ( Dr. Book, Addictionologist) 9: 15 – 9: 45am Identifying Signs of Possible Chemical Abuse ( Debbie Phillips RN, Nurse Manager; Mike Lamonds, Pharmacist; Beverly Essick RN, Risk Management,) 9: 45 – 10: 15am Professional Reporting and Actions ( Judy Knox RN, Manager of Drug Monitoring Programs; Jerry Ratley, SBI) 10: 15 – 10: 30am Break 10: 30 – 11: 10am Treatment and Re- entry Into Practice ( Dr. Book, Addictionologist; Debbie Phillips RN, Nurse Manager; Susan Jackson RN, Re- entry/ Reinstatement Committee) 11: 10 – 11: 30am Best Practices for Securing and Accounting for Controlled Substances ( Eleanor Moon RN, Consultant) 11: 30 – 11: 50am A Nurse’s Personal Experience ( recovering nurse who completed the Alternative Program) 11: 50 – 12: 10am Monitoring Outcomes ( Judy Knox RN, Manager of Drug Monitoring Programs) 12: 10 – 12: 30pm Panel Questions & Answers; Evaluation To register contact the Greensboro AHEC at 336- 832- 8025 or register on line at www. gahec. org/ courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC Julia L. George, RN, MSN has been named Director of the Education / Practice Department at the N. C. Board of Nursing replacing Linda Thompson RN, MSN who retired in April. George, who has been employed by the Board for ten years, was most recent-ly the Manager of ( PREP), Practitioner Remediation and Enhancement Partnership. Prior to working with the PREP program, George was a practice consultant. She started her career at the Board as an investigator. In 2005, George was the recipient of the Board’s Employee Excellence Award. A Registered Nurse for more than 30 years, George is also active in nursing regulation at the national level. She has served on several National Council of State Boards of Nursing committees and George has been selected as a “ Fellow” in the NCSBN’s Institute of Regulatory Excellence for the past 3 years. Georgenamed Director of Education/ Practice Department NORTH CAROLINA CLINICAL LAB. DAY Mark your calendar, Friday, August 4, 2006 at Wake Technical Community College 9101 Fayetteville Rd. in Raleigh. The focus of the 2nd annual North Carolina Clinical Laboratory Day is “ The Diabetes Challenge: Diagnosis, Education and Management”. The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health along with the North Carolina Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch of DHHS will co- host the conference. Participants will find the forum an opportunity to learn about the disease that is the sixth- leading cause of death in the United States. The conference is designed for healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, educators and clinical laboratory scientists. The conference fee is $ 30. For more informa-tion, call the Laboratory Improvement office at 919/ 733- 7186, or visit http:// slph. state. nc. us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC I renewed my license in July 2006. I work in critical care, and my learn-ing goal for my 2006– 2008 licensure peri-od is to obtain national certification in critical care nursing. I’ve chosen to accom-plish this through successful completion of the required examination. What documen-tation will I need to retain and provide as evidence if I’m selected for audit at my next renewal in July 2008? If audited in July 2008, you will be expected to provide a copy of your active certificate, which should include your name ( the licensee), the name of the certify-ing body, the date of certification, and the date of certification expiration. For your cer-tification to be acceptable as a learning goal that you have accomplished, you must have initially attained it during the licensure peri-od, or it must have been in effect during the entire licensure period, or you must have been recertified during the licensure period. I will renew my license in May 2007. I’m currently a stay- at- home mother, but I previously worked in pedi-atrics and plan to return to that specialty when my children are older. My learning A s FQ Frequently Asked Questions goal for my 2007– 2009 licensure period is to maintain and enhance my knowl-edge of the nursing care of children while I’m not actively employed. I’ve chosen to accomplish this through com-pletion of 30 contact hours of online and nursing journal continuing education offerings. What documentation will I need to retain and provide as evidence if I’m selected for audit at my next renewal in May 2009? If audited in May 2009, you will be expected to provide copies of the continuing education certificates ( totaling 30 contact hours) that you obtained on successful completion of each online or journal offering. The certificates should include your name ( the licensee), the title of the educational activity, the name of the recognized provider, the number of contact hours, and the date of the activity. I’ve seen information about profes-sional portfolios. Am I required to purchase or subscribe to a professional portfolio system to document and submit my continuing competence to the Board? No, you are not required to use a professional portfolio system ( elec-tronic or paper based) for documentation and submission of your continuing compe-tence. Although it is important that you maintain documentation of continuing education and professional activities for ready access if you are audited, you may do so in any manner of your choosing. Some licensees may find portfolio systems to be an attractive, effective record- keeping option, but such systems are not required or offered by the Board of Nursing. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. CONTINUING COMPETENCE 16 { Official Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An overwhelming majority of voters are pleased with our offering an incentive to those nurses in North Carolina who take the time to vote for candidates to the Board of Nursing. This year we are happy to announce that two spa- sampler pack-ages for two, have been made available to voters in the 2006 election. Generous donations, in support of nurses in North Carolina, have been made by; The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Ashville and The Spa at Pinehurst, North Carolina. Mark your calendar and vote in the 2006 election ( July 1st – August 15th) so you will be eligible to win these exciting spa sampler packages. E L E C T I O N I N C E N T I V E S F O R 2 0 0 6 The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa The Spa at Pinehurst SpAaaa a a a a a a a h h h h! RN SLATE OF CANDIDATES: RNS VOTE FOR RNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC SLATE OF CANDIDATESFOR 2006 LPN SLATE OF CANDIDATES: LPNS VOTE FOR LPNS # 1 NAME: DEBORAH L. JENKINS BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: I am a Durham, NC native, attended Durham Public Schools, 1980 graduate of Durham Technical Community College, obtained a diploma in Practical Nursing. I have twenty- five years of nursing experience in Pediatrics, Adult medicine, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Allergy, IV therapy and Pharmacology which includes calculating and administering medications. I currently work at Durham Pediatrics, a division of Duke University Health Systems. I am a member of NFLPNA and serve as Director on the Executive Board. I am also a member of NCLPNA and serve as Director and President of Durham area. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I am capable of making fair and impartial decisions during each Board meeting and hearing. I would ensure that LPNs are given a voice and made aware of changes in practice, policies, work rules and Board ethics. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . I understand and support the Board’s function and feel my presence and input would address that support. I also enjoy participating in the decision making processes which serve to uphold and maintain the quality and integrity of the nursing profession. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? I’ve worked 26 years as an LPN and have 2 years experience as a Board member which would be an asset to the effectiveness as well as knowledge of Board practice, ethics and policies. If elected, I will continue to provide professionalism, loyalty and service to both the Board and the public. # 1 NAME: ALEXIS B. WELCH POSITION: ADN/ Diploma Nurse Educator BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Education: AS Degree Mount Olive College, BSN, Atlantic Christian College, MA. Ed. East Carolina University, Ed. D. North Carolina State University. Experience: Registered Nurse since 1975; Licensed and practiced in North Carolina; Clinical Experience in MedSurg, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Psych, Home Health, Nursing Consultant; Educator in ADN, PN, and diploma nursing programs. Perspective: Currently, Dean of Health Sciences at Lenoir Community College and Director of the ADN and PN programs; Liaison to University Schools of Nursing; Representative on North Carolina Board of Nursing Committees/ Task Forces as requested; EAHEC nursing advisory committee; Member: NCADN Director, NCADN Council, NCNA. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I have been licensed 31 years as a RN and continue to work in education and practice. As a current NC Board of Nursing member, I am familiar with the Nursing Practice Act and the issues challenging nurses in the healthcare delivery systems today. To serve the nurses and public of North Carolina is a call-ing. To meet the challenges facing health care through public service, I am committed to serving you I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . If re- elected to the NC Board of Nursing, I will continue to promote standards ensuring safe, quality nursing care to all patients. I am committed to keeping licensed nurses at the bedside. In my present term on the NC Board of Nursing, I have recognized the value of listening to all nurses and believe that the Board is the voice for the collective needs of the nurses and the public we serve. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? My nursing experience prepares me to serve the citizens of North Carolina and represent nurses in all practice settings. My desire for unparalleled nursing care is influenced by my roles as a consumer, mother, daughter and friend. # 2 NAME: PAUL J. RUSK BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: My educational background is BA Sociology UNC- Wilmington 1981; Cape Fear Technical College Licensed Practical Nurse, 1982. I currently have 24 years experience. I worked 22 1/ 2 years at New Hanover Regional Medical Center - five years on the Dialysis Unit and the last 17 1/ 2 years on the Cardiac Telemetry Unit. I presently work as the Director of Assisted Living Azalea Place for Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehab Center. I have held this position for the last 1 1/ 2 years. I also am a current BCIS Instructor for American Heart for which I have done for 18 years. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I offer a dedication to protecting the public. This is done by ensuring the nurses of North Carolina remain competent and safe to practice. I have six years of experience serving on the board which provides me with a greater knowledge of opera-tions of the board. In addition, I offer 24 years of nursing experience. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . I have a long background in nursing. I have six years experience on the Board from 1998 to 2003. I feel I have a lot to offer the LPNs of the state because of my background. I am dedicated to keeping the LPN practice while helping to keep all nurses competent in their practices. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? Because of my years in nursing and prior experience on the Board, I have a good understanding of how the board functions and the needs of nurses and public safety. # 2 NAME: JANICE S. MCRORIE POSITION: ADN/ Diploma Nurse Educator BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Education: MSN 1987 University of South Carolina; BSN 1979 University of North Carolina; ADN 1974 Central Piedmont Community College. Work experience: 2004 – present, Full time Faculty, Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University of Charlotte; 1988 – 2004, Full time fac-ulty, Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing; 1992 – 1998, part time Clinical Faculty, UNC- Charlotte; 1978 – 1988, Patient Education Nurse, Charlotte Pediatric Clinic; 1974 – 1978, Staff Nurse, Charlotte Memorial Hospital. Current employer: Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I bring experience in regard to the working of the Board. My previous tenure as a member of the Board of Nursing and my three years elected as Chair of the Board gives me an excellent working knowledge of how the Board goes about fulfilling its mandate to protect the public. I can be effective immediately. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . II have always felt committed to the nurses of North Carolina and still after 32 years am proud to say I am a registered nurse. I think the NC Board of Nursing is committed to excellence in regulation and I want to be a part of that process. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? I bring experience in practice as well as education. I am committed to a fair decision making process and being sure that all sides have a chance to voice an opinion before decisions are made. I have the energy and the dedication to work hard on some of the issues currently before the Board as well as issues that will come up in the future. I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote # 4 NAME: SARA A. GRIFFITH BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: I am a Staff Nurse III at WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina. I hold a BSN in nursing from East Carolina University. Currently I am seeking a Master of Science in Nursing Education from East Carolina University. I began at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in July 2000 on a trauma/ general/ vascular surgical unit. In 2002, I moved to Raleigh and continued nursing on a cardiovascular surgical intermediate unit at WakeMed. I have held the following staff nurse positions: car-diovascular educator, new graduate preceptor, and RN refresher preceptor. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? To the public of North Carolina, I will offer the ability to problem- solve effectively with self- confidence, honesty and integrity. Utilize my communication, assessment and discipline skills to embody the mission and vision of the Board of Nursing. The ability to address sit-uations related to the health, safety and welfare of the public with an open mind and understanding patient safety is key. I offer a strong education background to compliment my knowledge of nursing. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . Being a member of the North Carolina Board of Nursing would be a life- long goal to make contributions to the profession of nursing that could impact practice as well as patient care. Nursing practice is demanding change and requires proactive steps to direct policy initiatives. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? In the 6 years I have been a registered nurse, I have witnessed the ever changing practice of nursing. This experience has given me the ability to easily adapt to change. My experience as Patient Safety Resource Nurse, has given me insight into the many challenges nurses face in providing safe, effective nursing care 18 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STAFF NURSE # 1 NAME: DEBRA L. COSTON BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: My name is Debra Coston, a Staff Nurse in the Surgical Trauma ICU at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC. UNC- W became my educational home in 1973, where I completed my Associate’s Degree in Nursing. I have worked with education in the STICU to include CCRN reviews, hemodynamic classes, Critical Care and Core Curriculum classes. Accomplishments include: creating acuity systems, shared governance finance counsel member, NC Nursing Excellence 2001, preceptorship, publishing in a trauma text, established the Network’s Critical Care Conference, mentorship, Network coordi-nator ACLS and PALS, CCRN certification. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I offer listening and a willingness to see things finished. I want the public to feel safe and understand that I want to investigate what is necessary and help to make avenues that increase safety to the public. I also speak as a patient advocate and as a caregiver at the bedside. Best practices, new technologies and deal-ing with physicians on behalf of patients and their families are consistently on the agenda. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . After having served a previous term, I now have a greater understanding of how the Board functions. I also am aware of the continuing needs of nurses across North Carolina. This gives me opportunity to be available to create a progression of nursing in North Carolina. Also, I want to be involved with the future of nursing and my future as a potential patient with high expectations. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? After 29 years in a critical care arena of ever changing technology and critical thinking as well as multitasking, I believe the contribution I make is multifaceted. This experience gives me the ability to look at a situation, consider all of the functions and dysfunctions of the body and come to a logical and timely decision to either prevent further damage or create an idea to help correct the situation. # 2 NAME: CHRISTINE C. DALTON BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: I received an Associates Degree in Nursing from Davidson Community College in 1998. I initially worked in a nursing home and then moved to the acute care setting at High Point Regional Health System where I obtained experience in orthopedic, bariatric, neurological and infusion nursing. Presently, I work full- time as an IV nurse. I am also a member of NCNA and serve as secretary for District 9. I am a member of the NCINS and INS. I worked with the Nursing Strategic Planning Committee for over a year. I have been honored by being nominated for the 2006 Great 100. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I commit myself to serve the public by being their representative on the Board, by acknowl-edging their rights and their needs for compassionate nursing care and by recognizing the issues that affect their receiving the care they desire and deserve. Secondly, I commit my voice to speak for the public and to keep their needs at the forefront of all decisions that are made on their behalf and to promote change where it is needed. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . I am committed to being involved at the state level where I can feel that I have had a small part impacting the nursing profession and patient care. I believe the North Carolina Board of Nursing has been the pace setter in recognizing healthcare issues and being proactive in supporting not only patients, but also nurses. From making decisions about regulatory con-straints to developing protocols for licensure, the Board speaks for all nurses. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? Having worked in the subacute and acute care settings, I have first- hand experience into the issues that affect patient care and the nursing profession in these practice settings. I have listened intently to nurses throughout each setting as to what they are looking for within the profession and why they do or do not stay within the profession. I believe that I can offer a prospective that supports both the patient and the professional nurse. # 3 NAME: DEBRA Y. RICHARDSON BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: I am a private duty nurse employed with Maxim Healthcare Services. I have more than 20 years experience in the hospital, home health and primary care settings. I obtained my Diploma degree in Nursing at Lenoir Memorial School of Nursing in 1982 in Kinston, North Carolina. I have experience in Diabetic Teaching, Infusion Therapy, Wound Care, Enteral Feeds, Chemo- therapy, Perinatal Nursing, Pediatrics and Adult Asthma Self Teaching. I also have experience establishing policies and procedures with Policy and Procedure Committee in hospital settings. I am planning to pursue a Master’s in Nursing in the fall. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? With more than 20 years experience in the hospital, home health and primary care settings as well as my experience with Pediatrics, Diabetes, Infusion Therapy, Wound Care, Enteral Feeds, Chemotherapy, Perinatal Nursing, Pediatric and Adult Asthma Self Teaching, I hope to make a difference in the deliverance of safe, effective nursing care to the public. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . With the ever growing shortage of nurses, I feel the need to protect the health and welfare of the public. I hope that I can make a difference as a member of the North Carolina Board of Nursing by assuring safe and effective, as well as, sound nursing care and judgment to the public. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? With my 20 years plus experience in the hospital, home health and primary care environment, I hope to make a difference in our nursing profession to ensure that the public receives the safest and most effective nursing care they deserve. I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote & . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC DIRECTIONS Beginning July 1, you can have a direct impact on nursing issues in North Carolina by voting in this year’s election of nurse members of the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Your certificate number and four- digit PIN combine to become a unique identifier that allows you to vote in the 2006 elec-tions. Your PIN is located in the upper- right corner of the mail-ing label affixed to this issue of Nursing Bulletin. If you cannot read or locate your PIN, simply provide the information requested by the electronic election system, and it will issue your PIN. You can vote by telephone or via the Internet starting on July 1. The last day to vote is August 15, 2006. Remember that you can do this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE: Dial the Board’s special toll- free number, 1- 877- 531- 1811. Listen to the directions, and enter your candidate selection ( via push- button from a touch- tone phone). TO VOTE ONLINE: Log on to the Board’s website at www. ncbon. com, click on the Election 2006 link, and follow the instructions. The system for either telephone or Internet voting will confirm your voter eligibility and tabulate results electronically. The slate of candidates for 2006 is included in this mailing of the Bulletin. In it you will find biographical and practice information about the candidates, as well as their personal reasons for wanting to be members of the Board of Nursing. Please read and follow directions carefully. As you review the information provided by candidates, remember that you don’t have to know each candidate on the slate personally to make a selection. Instead, take the time to review each candidate’s background informa-tion and his or her stated reasons for wanting to serve on the Board of Nursing. Then cast your vote for the candidate who you feel is most qualified. We urge each of you to take the time to vote for the candidate of your choice via tele-phone or Internet. It is fast, it is easy, and it makes a difference! Participating in the elec-tion is a significant way to influence the deci-sions that affect your practice of nursing in North Carolina. If you have any questions regarding the slate of candidates or the electronic election system, contact Angela Ellis at the Board office, ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 259, or angela@ ncbon. com. Voting CARDLESS LICENSURE & LISTING SYSTEM PL ANNED FOR JAN. 2007 Beginning in January 2007, the N. C. Board of Nursing is going cardless. Consistent with the new Cardless Licensure and Listing System, initial licens-es issued by examination and endorsement ( to include both temporary and permanent), as well as, initial nurse aide II listings issued on and after January 1, 2007 will be electronic. Newly licensed RNs and LPNs will continue receiving the original Certificate of Registration; and nurse aide IIs will receive a notice of initial listing. License/ Listing renewals with a January 31, 2007 expiration date will not receive a card. Instead, the RN, LPN and nurse aide II will receive a written notice of licensure/ list-ing with directions on how to verify their licensure status online or by using the automated telephone verification system. In 2003, GS 90- 171.43A – Mandatory Employer Verification of Licensure Status was added to the Nursing Practice Act. It requires a health care facility to verify that each nurse holds a current, valid license to practice nursing at the time of employ-ment. The Joint Commission on Accreditation for Health Organizations ( JCAHO) standards now require employers of nurses to access primary source data for license verification. The electronic licensure files are updated daily and our database serves as the primary source for licensure informa-tion about nurses in North Carolina. The Board pro-vides free access to its nurse and nurse aide licen-sure/ listing database for the purpose of verification by employers, licensees and the public. By Fall 2006 our licensure verification system will be upgraded to provide easy access to public licensure and discipli-nary information for N. C. licensees. The Cardless Licensure/ Listing System has several advantages: • Eliminates Lost, Stolen and Duplicate Licenses/ Listings; • Eliminates Imposters using fraudulent plas-tic/ paper licenses/ listings • Assists employers in satisfying JCAHO stan-dards requiring the use of primary source data for license verification; • Provides quicker access by employers and the public to disciplinary information. • Assists employers in complying with GS 90- 171.43A – Mandatory Employer Verification of Licensure Status; • Increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the Board of Nursing in administering its regula-tory activities. Look for more information on the Cardless Licensure/ Listing System in future editions of the Bulletin and online. Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What am I going to show my employer? They always want to see my new license. R1. Your employer can access your licensure information directly from the NC Board Nursing database, which is the primary source for nurse licensure information. The database can be accessed via telephone at 919- 881- 2272 or on our website www. ncbon. com. Q2. How will I know if my license has been renewed? R2. You will receive a postcard notice that your license has been renewed containing directions on how to verify your licensure sta-tus online or by telephone. Q3. I’m doing a travel assignment in another compact state. How can my new employ-er verify my multi- state privilege practice? R3. Your employer can access our database to verify your multi- state privilege or contact www. nursys. org { Official Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nurses Represent North Carolina in NCLEX Item Development The following nurses represented North Carolina in the NCLEX item development program for the first quarter of 2006. • Carolyn Ophelia Baker: Alternate, 1/ 18/ 06 RN Item Writing Panel • Johnnie Martin Guttery: Member, 3/ 1/ 06 RN Item Review Panel • Nida Dawn Mullins: Member, 1/ 18/ 06 RN Item Writing Panel • Kathryn Diane Josephson Ryn: Member, 3/ 26/ 06 RN Item Review Panel • Sherry D. Smith: 2/ 1/ 06 Candidate, PN Item Review Panel • Elizabeth L. Turner: Alternate, 2/ 13/ 06 RN Item Writing Panel For application and re The Board of Nursing and Greensboro AHEC will be offering a conference titled " Addressing Substance Abuse/ Dependency Among Nurses" from 8: 30am to 12: 30pm on Thursday September 28, 2006. Plan to come and interact with various " experts" related to this issue. More information located on page 12 and on the Board’s website regarding registration. Hold the Date! Sept. 28th 8: 30 am- 12: 30 pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC Interested in Camp Nursing? Each year the Board of Nursing receives an influx of questions related to being a camp nurse. Limited resources are available to help nurses understand the role. This article is an attempt to help them be better prepared. If you are considering camp nursing, it is a good idea to look into your options ahead of time. You must be licensed in the state where the camp is located or have a privilege to practice in that state via the Interstate Compact. Whether you are working as a volunteer or in a paid position, you have the legal responsibility and are accountable for practicing according to the standards for nursing practice in the state in which you will be working. A remote campground may offer you a beautiful, peaceful setting, but it also requires you to be comfortable with your emergency skills. You must be prepared to make judgment calls, often with no second opinion. Because of the degree of independent and autonomous functioning of a camp nurse, the level of practice is that of an RN. An LPN may work in this setting only under the direct supervision of an RN or another authorized provider. As a camp nurse, you will have a broad range of responsibilities. You need to know the population that you will be serving ( age and health status). Specialty camps serve children with a variety of physical, behavioral, and emotional needs. Therefore you will need a variety of skills, including good communication, assessment, critical thinking, and problem solving. In addition, you will need to have sound clinical knowledge of blood- borne pathogens, universal precautions, first aid, CPR, airway management, medications, and environmental hazards. These skills, along with a good sense of humor, should ensure that you are prepared to meet the challenges of being a camp nurse. One of the primary duties of the camp nurse is to make sure that campers take their medications and that children with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy are appropriately monitored. You should review the camp’s policies, procedures, and protocols for guidance related to assessment, treatment of minor ill-nesses and trauma, and documentation. It is advisable that you identify the standing medication orders for over- the-counter medications and ensure that these orders include dosing instructions. You must be prepared to respond to accidents or injuries, communicable dis-eases, environmental injuries and illnesses, discomfort problems, heat- related illnesses, chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asth-ma, and emotional afflictions such as home-sickness. Following are some questions that the Board is frequently asked about camp nursing: • Does the nurse have to maintain records? Yes, the nurse always must keep records of assessments performed, interventions ( medications and treatments), responses to interventions, contacts made, and follow- up requirements. • What is the nurse’s responsibility regarding the administration of medica-tions sent with campers in dispensers or pill- planner boxes instead of the original labeled medication bottles? Generally speaking, medications should not be accepted unless they are in their orig-inal containers from the pharmacy. This information should be made clear to the par-ents before the camp experience. The nurse cannot be accountable for administering medications that he or she cannot verify. • What should the nurse do if the med-ication dosing instructions are different from those on the medication label? When this occurs, the nurse must verify with the physician the correct dosing instructions. • Can a nurse delegate medication administration to unlicensed staff if the camper is participating in an activity that is away from the health center? Administration of epi- pens and sched-uled medication doses can be delegated to unlicensed staff, provided that they have received adequate training and the parents have agreed to allow this practice. The nurse is responsible for education of the camper and direction of unlicensed staff. If this area of nursing is of interest to you, and you would like to learn more, con-tact the Association for Camp Nurses, at www. campnurse. org. If you are a camp nurse and have questions about nursing reg-ulation, contact a practice consultant at ( 919) 782- 3211. KATHY CHASTAIN, RN, MN, Practice Consultant 22 { Official Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF NURSING CALENDAR Board Meeting September 21– 22, 2006 Education/ Practice Committee August 24, 2006 December 7, 2006 Licensure Committee August 8– 9, 2006 October 3– 4, 2006 December 5– 6, 2006 Settlement Committee August 11, 2006 September 8, 2006 October 27, 2006 December 1, 2006 Administrative Hearings July 20– 21, 2006 October 19– 20, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC NATIONAL COUNCIL Seeks Input on Current LPN Entry- level Nursing Practice The National Council of State Board of Nursing ( NCSBN) is launching a practice analysis study designed to describe entry-level LPN practice. Using a survey developed by a panel of experts that included practicing LPNs from a variety of practice settings and specialty areas was as LPN educators, a sam-ple of LPNs will be asked to determine the frequency of performance and the impor-tance of ach of the activities listed. The results of the survey will be used to evaluate the current LPN test plan in an effort to assure that the NCLEX- PN examination reflects existing practice. This LPN survey will begin in June 2006. NCSBN encourages nurses receiving the sur-vey to complete and return it as soon as pos-sible. If you have any questions about the survey, contact NCLEX information at 866- 293- 9600 or email nclexinfo@ ncsbn. org. LEGAL SCOPE OF PRACTICE WORKSHOP NOW AVAILABLE O N L I N E By popular demand the Legal Scope of Practice Workshop now is available as an online educational offering. The fee is $ 40, and 2.8 contact hours will be awarded for successful completion of the course. Access is granted for three weeks. The Board will continue to offer the Legal Scope of Practice Workshop at the Board office quarterly ( on the basis of interest) for those who wish to attend. Instructions for Taking the Online Course Go to www. ncbon. com. Under Recent Announcements, click on Legal Scope of Practice Online Course. Click on Course Registration, and enter your information along with pay-ment. It is recommended that you print out the handouts. Click on Begin Course. At the end of the course, click on Posttest and Evaluation. Then print your certificate of completion. MEDS PUBLISHING ONLINE COURSES OFFERED The Board continues to offer the following MEDS Publishing online courses: • Series I— Dosage and Calculation Made Easy ( 6 modules) • Series II— Pharmacology Made Easy ( 10 modules) For details about either offering, visit the Board’s website, www. ncbon. com, and under General Information, click on Meds Publishing Online Courses. Or contact Pamela Trantham, practice enhancement coordinator, at ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 279, or via e- mail at Pamela@ ncbon. com. MEDICATION AIDE INFO On Website Updated information regarding Medication Aides has been added to the Board’s web-site. This information includes: General Information, Frequently Asked Questions, Law and Rules and RN Medication Aide Instructor Information. All this material is currently at www. ncbon. com click on Medication Aides on the homepage. NOTICE UPDATE NC CRNA RECOGNITION All CRNAs are expected to renew their national certification biannually in July. Approximately 60 days prior to expiration of the national certification, the Board sends the CRNA a notice that the recognition is approaching expiration. To update current NC CRNA Recognition, you must be within 60 days of expiring. For your convenience, go to www. ncbon. com to update your CRNA Recognition online. REMINDER POSTCARDS TO UPDATE CRNA RECOGNITION WERE MAILED THE LAST WEEK OF MAY 2006. The postcard provides the needed information and instructions regarding CRNA Recognition Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC SUMMARY of ACTIONS In keeping with public records and open meetings laws, the North Carolina Board of Nursing posts all actions in the Nursing Bulletin or on its website, at www. ncbon. com. A regular meeting of the Board was held on May 18- 19, 2006, in Raleigh. The following is a summary of the Board’s actions. From the May 18- 19, 2006, Board Meeting ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS • Approved the proposed fiscal year 2006– 2007 budget • Authorized staff to make minor or clarify-ing revisions to 21 NCAC 36.0208, 36.0217( c) 19 and 21, and 36.0219, and then proceed with the rule- making process consistent with the migration to a cardless licensure/ listing system • Approved revisions to the following rules of 21 NCAC 36.0800, Approval and Practice Parameters for Nurse Practitioners: 0801, Definitions; .0802, Scope of Practice; .0803, Nurse Practitioner Registration; .0804, Process for Approval to Practice; .0805, Education and Certification Requirements for Registration as a Nurse Practitioner; .0806, Annual Renewal; .0807, Continuing Education; .0808, Inactive Status; .0809, Prescribing Authority; .0810, Quality Assurance Standards for a Collaborative Practice Agreement; .0811, Method of Identification; .0812, Disciplinary Action; .0813, Fees; and .0814, Practicing during a Disaster • Amended revisions to 21 NCAC 36.0318 Faculty to delete the requirement for mas-ter's level preparation pending decision regarding requirement for a fiscal note and proceed with the rule revision process with a proposed effective date of August 1, 2006. Rationale: Rule revisions for the nurse prac-titioner approved by the Board of Nursing and the Medical Board became effective August 1, 2004. Among other things these revisions strengthened the educational requirements and allowed the nurse practi-tioner to register to use the NP title. Since the rules have been in effect for two years and staff has worked with the revisions, some clarifications need to be addressed. EDUCATION AND PRACTICE MATTERS EDUCATION MATTERS: • Ratified full approval status Vance Granville Community College, Henderson— ADN Vance Granville Community College, Henderson— PNE • Ratified expansions in enrollment Beaufort County Community College, Washington— ADN: an increase of 40 for a total of 120, effective spring 2007 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Hudson— ADN: an increase of 6 for a total of 116, effective spring 2006 Richmond Community College, Hamlet— ADN: three clinical groups of 11, for spring 2006 Rowan- Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury— ADN: an increase of 20 for a total of 140, effective fall 2006; alternate scheduling— evening/ weekend Surry Community College, Dodson— PNE: an increase of 5 for a total of 35, effective spring 2006 • Granted initial approval South Piedmont Community College, Monroe— ADN, beginning fall 2006 Item highlighted above to be determined at the Board meeting • Granted full approval Bladen Community College, Dublin— ADN PRACTICE MATTERS: • Received, for the Board’s information, a revision to the statement “ The Role of the Licensed Nurse in Providing Complementary Therapies.” Statement available at www. ncbon. com, under the Practice Department link, or by calling ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 244. • Approved the statement “ The Role of the LPN in Assessing and Categorizing Wounds.” Statement available at www. ncbon. com, under the Practice Department link, or by calling ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 244. • Approved the master teacher recertifi-cation requirements for medication aide instructors INVESTIGATION AND MONITORING ACTIONS • Received reports and granted absolu-tions to 1 RN and 1 LPN • Removed probation from the license of 12 RNs and 1 LPN • Denied reinstatement to 1 RN and 2 LPNs • Accepted voluntary surrenders from 20 RNs and 6 LPNs • Suspended the license of 5 RNs and 2 LPNs • Reinstated the license of 11 RNs and 5 LPNs • Accepted a consent to surrender the privilege to practice— under interstate compact— from 1 RN • In accordance with G- S. 110- 142.1, took action on 2 RN licenses ( suspend-ed) and 5 NAII listing cards ( 1 revoked, 4 not eligible to renew) Number of participants in the Alternative Program for Chemical Dependency: 110 RNs and 11 LPNs Number of participants in the Chemical Dependency Discipline Program: 61 RNs and 9 LPNs Number of participants in the Illicit Drug Program: 28 RNs and 13 LPNs . BEGINNING JUNE 30TH YOU CAN VIEW THE CANDIDATE FORUM. VISIT NCBON. COM AND CLICK ON THE ELECTION LOGO TO REVIEW THIS INFORMATION 26 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Numbers Support REMEDIATION The Board’s Practice Improvement and Regulation Committee provides direct oversight of all practice competency and misconduct issues related to licensed nurses. This article reports on the Board’s progress in implementing its philosophy of remediation and a nonpunitive approach to resolving competency issues and addressing activities involving misconduct. PRACTICE- RELATED COMPLAINTS All practice issues are reviewed by prac-tice consultants to ensure consistency in review of complaints as well as assessment or appropriate remediation before punitive action is considered. In 2005, practice con-sultants reviewed 457 practice- related com-plaints, and they resolved 390 ( 85%) at this level of inquiry. The most common types of allegations ( 68%) related to patients’ rights, such as lack of respect, inappropriate interactions, and breach of confidentiality, and to patient care, such as neglect, abandon-ment, medication errors, and failure to maintain standards. Most practice- related complaints ( 85%) were resolved with no further action, indi-cating that no violation was found, or through a letter of concern, indicating that although there was no actual violation of the Nursing Practice Act, the licensee was alerted that continued practice of the kind that brought on the complaint might lead to competency issues requiring Board inter-vention. Of the 390 complaints resolved at this level, 15% were referred for further investigation and possible discipline. The Practitioner Remediation and Enhancement Partnership ( PREP) program continues to be a viable option for licensees to address, in a voluntary, non-disciplinary, non- punitive environment, competency issues that do not involve an actual violation of the Nursing Practice Act. However, the nurse must be willing to accept responsibility and accountability for competency issues, and he or she must have the motivation to improve his or her practice. In 2005, fifty- three candidates were referred to PREP. Eighty- seven per-cent were eligible for participation, most of them registered nurses ( 67%). Referrals came from all types of facilities, with hospi-tals and long- term care facilities providing an almost equal number. The majority of referrals were for exceeding scope of prac-tice ( 35%). Medication errors ranked sec-ond highest ( 22%). Unfortunately, many nurses continue to be reported to the Board without first being considered for non- punitive remediation by the employer. This is evident from the fact that 64% of PREP participants were referred by Board staff after practice com-plaints were reported to the Board. Consistent with the Board’s strategic plan and compatible with the PREP philos-ophy, the program will continue to work toward a “ just culture,” focused on learning collectively from errors rather than placing blame on individuals who make errors. INVESTIGATIONS In 2005, four hundred forty- seven com-plaints related to such issues as misconduct, drug diversion, impairment, and criminal behavior were referred directly for investi-gation. The number of drug- related cases increased from the year before, and this kind of case represented the greatest num-ber of violations. Most of the drug cases involved the use or the handling of con-trolled substances. INTERSTATE COMPACT ISSUES With the Interstate Compact, all licensees practicing in North Carolina on the privilege are offered all options for complaint resolution. Five practice com-plaints related to licensees practicing in this state through the Interstate Compact. Three of these nurses were referred to the PREP program, one was referred for inves-tigation, and the case of one was resolved with no further action. MONITORING AND PROBATION An average of 4 licensees per month successfully completed their probationary licenses in 2005, compared with 3 per month in 2004. The average number of licenses suspended in 2005 was less than 1 per month, compared with 2.5 per month in 2004. When noncompliance issues were identified, staff provided licensees with an opportunity to explain why they were not meeting the probationary conditions and also provided any further clarification needed regarding the probationary condi-tions. These quality- improvement measures have contributed to a decrease in the num-ber of licensees being suspended for failure to comply with probationary conditions. Thus the Board is keeping more licensees in the workforce and decreasing costs to the licensee and the Board. DRUG- MONITORING PROGRAMS The Board has four drug- monitoring programs: • Alternative Program for Chemical Dependency ( AP)— nonpublic, nondis-ciplinary; licensee admits chemical dependency, participates voluntarily • Chemical Dependency Discipline Program ( CDDP)— public, disciplinary; licensee must participate if he or she does “ Unfortunately, many nurses continue to be reported to the Board, without first being considered for non- punitive remediation by the employer.” } CAROL SWINK, RN, PHD Associate Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC not meet the criteria for the AP. • Probationary Licensees who are drug screening ( ProbS)— public, disciplinary; evidence suggests substance issues; drug screening required • Illicit Drug Program ( IDP)— nonpub-lic, non- disciplinary; positive pre-employment or random drug screen, with no evidence of impairment on duty; licensee denies, and has no diagnosis of, chemical dependency; drug screening required In December 2005 there were 234 par-ticipants in all drug- monitoring programs, compared with 193 participants in December 2004. This represents a 21% increase in volume. The number of partici-pants in the AP and ProbS remained rela-tively constant, whereas the number of par-ticipants in the CDDP and the IDP increased. It was anticipated that the num-ber of participants in the IDP would increase once the pre- employment drug screens were added on July 1, 2004. The reasons for the increase in the CDDP are less clear, and annual growth is difficult to predict for this program. Seventeen participants completed the AP in 2005. In terms of overall success of the program since its inception in 1994, sev-enty- eight nurses have successfully complet-ed the required three years of monitoring after returning to nursing practice. Only nine participants are known to have relapsed after completion of the program. This represents an 88% success rate. One of the objectives of the AP is to assist nurses in returning to the workplace in a timely man-ner after demonstrating evidence of being grounded in their recovery. In 2005, sixty-eight nurses returned to work. In the past they would have been out of practice for a minimum of one year. The Board’s philosophy of remediation versus punishment now is a reality. The challenge to search for appropriate assess-ment and remediation tools for competency-related issues continues. So does the chal-lenge to involve the employer and the Board in a more comprehensive collaborative approach to resolving competency issues ear-lier in order to keep the nurse in the work-place while maintaining the goal of patient safety. The Board will move forward on using an evidenced- based decision- making approach to meet these challenges. BOARD CREATES POSITION OF COMPLAINT COORDINATOR In July 2005 the Board created the position of complaint coordinator to establish a central location for receiving and processing all complaints. The Board receives an average of 850 complaints each year. Because each complaint is unique and important, the complaint coordinator reviews complaints on an individual basis to ensure proper processing. It is preferable that all complaints be submitted on the complaint form to assist the Board in processing and investigating the complaint. Following are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the filing of a complaint. Q. Who may file a complaint? Anyone may file a complaint. Sources of complaints related to licensees are employers, co- workers, patients, family members of patients, law enforce-ment agencies, self- reports, and referrals from other regulatory agencies. Q. How do I file a complaint? Complaint forms are available at the Board’s web-site, www. ncbon. com, under Complaint Info. Two types of forms appear there: Illicit Drug Complaints and General Complaints. If you do not have access to the Web, request a form by contacting Complaint Coordinator, P. O. Box 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602, or ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 282. When you are ready to submit the complaint, send it to the address on the complaint form, fax it to ( 919) 781- 9461, or e- mail it to complaint@ ncbon. com. Q. May I report my complaint to the Board of Nursing via tele-phone? Yes, telephone complaints are accepted but need to be followed up in writing. We must have the specifics of the complaint, including who, what, where, and when, with any supporting documenta-tion that is available. Not having the written docu-mentation will hamper our ability to investigate the complaint fully. Q. What is the difference between the two complaint forms under the Complaint Info link on the website? • ILLICIT DRUG COMPLAINTS AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTION — Use this form to report a positive pre- employment or random drug screen. A failed drug screen performed for cause with evidence of impairment on duty should not be reported on this form. • GENERAL COMPLAINTS— Use this form to report anything other than a positive pre- employment or random drug screen. Q. I notice that the complaint form requests the Social Security number and the certifi-cate number. What if I do not know this information? It is helpful to have this identifying information, for there are more than 122,000 licensed nurses in North Carolina. Before launching an investigation of a licensee, the Board uses extreme caution in validating the identify of the nurse being reported. more COMPLAINT Q& As on the next page Tammy Horne, Complaint Coordinator If you do not know the Social Security number or the certificate number of the licensee you are reporting, please submit your complaint with as much information as possible. If you have the licensee’s home address, telephone number, place of employment, or other such information, we can explore these avenues to ensure proper identification of the nurse being reported. Q. What conduct by a nurse should be reported to the Board? Any suspected violation of the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act should be reported. For a copy of the act, visit our website, www. ncbon. com, and click on Nursing Practice Act/ Rules. The Board has no authority over such matters as employment issues, rudeness to peers, dis-putes with co- workers, personality conflicts, absen-teeism, tardiness, refusal of assignment, and labor- man-agement disputes such as work schedules, wages, and termination. Q. May I submit an anonymous complaint? Yes, anonymous complaints are accepted. However, we still must have the specifics of the complaint: who, what, where, and when. Also, not having a com-plainant’s name will hamper our ability to investigate the complaint fully. Q. Will you protect my identity if I list myself as the complainant? If charges are brought against a licensee that you reported to us, you may be required to testify, and the licensee has the right to see the original complaint. To review a complaint form visit our homepage www. ncbon. com and click on complaint info. { Official Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMPLAINT Q& As continued from previous page the BREAK r o o m 30 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC Board of Nursing Workshop Registration Form 2006 Please check the appropriate Workshop Below Continuing Competence Update Information sessions related to future board requirements for demonstration of Continuing Competence. No fee required for these sessions. Contact Hours pending. __ July 27, 2006 - Wilmington – 10a. m. – 11: 30a. m New Hanover Regional Medical Center 2131 South 17th Street AHEC Auditorium __ August 21, 2006 - Fayetteville – 10a. m. – 11a. m. Fayetteville AHEC 1601 Owen Drive 2nd Floor Auditorium __ September 7, 2006 - Asheville, 1– 2: 30 p. m. Mission Hospital Memorial Campus, Kate Reynolds Classroom 509 Biltmore Avenue __ September 18, 2006 - Raleigh NC Board of Nursing 3724 National Drive – Ste 201 SELECT ONLY ONE SESSION ___ 10a. m. – 11a. m. – Session 1 ___ 1p. m. – 2p. m. – Session 2 __ October 18, 2006 - Greenville, 11a. m.– 12 p. m. Pitt County Memorial Hospital 2100 Stantonsburg Road Hospital Auditorium __ October 26, 2006 - Charlotte – 10a. m.- 11a. m. Charlotte AHEC 5039 Airport Center Parkway – Bldg K – Classroom 15 Questions/ Directions? Contact Paulette at ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 244, or via e- mail at PAULETTE@ ncbon. com. If you unable to attend one of these workshops, please go to: http:// www. ncbon. com/ prac- contcompwcast. asp to view the web cast available 24/ 7. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRINT CONTINUING COMPETENCE DOCUMENTS AND RECEIVE CONTACT HOURS. Legal Scope of Practice ( Raleigh at NCBON, 10: 00 a. m.– 1: 05 p. m.) The purpose of this offering is to provide information and clarification regarding the legal scope of practice parameters for licensed nurses in North Carolina. Contact Hours offered. __ Aug 16, 2006 __ Nov 15, 2006 ( Limit of 20 people per workshop) Orientation Sessions for Administrators of Nursing Services and Mid- Level Nurse Managers Information sessions regarding the functions of the Board of Nursing and the impact of these functions on the roles of the chief nurse administrator and the mid- level nurse manager in all types of nursing service set-tings. Contact Hours offered. Registration at least two weeks in advance of scheduled session is required. If you wish to review materials before the session, call ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 238. ( Limit of 20 people per session) Questions/ Directions? Contact: Linda Blain at 919/ 782- 3211 ext. 238 or via e- mail at LINDAB@ ncbon. com NAME:____________________________________________________________ TITLE:____________________________________________________________ ORGANIZATION NAME:_____________________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________ STATE: ______ ZIP: _________ WORK PH#: (____)_______________ HOME PH#: (____)________________ HOME ADDRESS:__________________________________________________ CITY: _______________________________ STATE: ________ ZIP: _________ E- MAIL ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ Make checks payable to North Carolina Board of Nursing or pay by credit card. Registration fee covers course materials. Credit Card Type: MasterCard Visa Expiration Date: Month: _____ Year: _____ Credit Card Number: __________________________________________________ Cardholder Name ( as it appears on Credit Card):___________________________________ Cardholder Billing Address: _____________________________________________ CITY: ________________________________ STATE: _________ ZIP: _________ Code:__________________ Total Amount: $____________________ Cardholder Signature: ________________________________________________ ( Credit card payment cannot be accepted via fax or phone.) Questions/ Directions? Contact: Pam at 919/ 782- 3211 ext. 279 or via e- mail at PAMELA@ ncbon. com ( Raleigh- NCBON- 10am- 3: 55pm) Role of the LPN in North Carolina ( Registration starts at 8: 00 a. m.; workshop ends at 12: 45 pm.) The purpose of this offering is to provide an overview regarding the role, the responsibilities, and the scope of practice of the licensed practical nurse. Content will focus on the role of the LPN in contrast to the RN, clarification of the LPN as a nurse-in- charge, and the role of the LPN in orienting the nurse aide. RNs who assign to LPNs, and LPNs in any type of practice set-ting, are encouraged to attend. Contact hours offered. ___ September 20, 2006 – Gastonia Gaston Memorial Hospital Magnolia Room 2525 Court Drive Questions/ Directions? Contact: Linda Blain at 919/ 782- 3211 ext. 238 or via e- mail at LINDAB@ ncbon. com ___ July 12, 2006 ___ September 13, 2006 ___ November 8, 2006 WORKSHOP NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! Go to www. ncbon. com Under Recent Announcements, locate “ Legal Scope of Practice Online Course” Click on the link and follow instructions Please Indicate the following: Title/ Date of Workshops Registration fee: $ 40 per session per person, for all work-shops except Continuing Competence Update; NONREFUND-ABLE ( unless the workshop is cancelled) PLEASE PRINT ALL INFORMATION AND MAIL TO: Administrative Secretary– Practice, NCBON, POB 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602. Please give a complete address, for you will be mailed a confirmation and/ or directions.
Object Description
Description
Title | Nursing bulletin |
Date | 2006 |
Description | Summer 2006 (Volume 2 {Number 3} Edition 6) |
Digital Characteristics-A | 603 KB; 21 p. |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Related Items | Recent issues also available via the World Wide Web.; http://www.ncbon.com/; http://worldcat.org/oclc/57243106/viewonline |
Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_borndigital\images_master\ |
Full Text | VOLUME 2 { NO 3} EDITION 6 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMMER 06 CARDLESS LICENS& URE & LISTING SYSTEM PL ANNED FOR JAN. 2007 SLATE OF CANDIDATESFOR 2 0 0 6 I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote SUMMER 2006 BULLETIN NC BOARD OF NURSING Nursing Bulletin is the official publication of the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Office Location 3724 National Drive, Ste 201 Raleigh, NC 27612 Mailing Address P. O. Box 2129 Raleigh, NC 27602 Telephone ( 919) 782- 3211 Fax ( 919) 781- 9461 Automated Verification ( 919) 881- 2272 Website www. ncbon. com Office Hours 8 a. m. to 5 p. m., Monday through Friday Board Chair Beverly Foster, PhD, RN Executive Director Polly Johnson, RN, MSN, FAAN Editor David Kalbacker Artists Paulette Young Photography DayMeetsNight Photography Brian Strickland Mission Statement The North Carolina Board of Nursing is committed to protecting the health and well- being of the public through regulating the deliv-ery of safe, effective nursing care. Advertisements contained here-in are not necessarily endorsed by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertise-ments for the Nursing Bulletin. All art ( photos, paintings, draw-ings, etc.) contained in this publi-cation is used under contractual agreement. 123,000 copies of this document were printed and mailed for a cost of $. 12 per copy The North Carolina Board of Nursing is an equal opportunity employer. CREATED BY: Publishing Concepts, Inc. 14109 Taylor Loop Road Little Rock, AR 72223 Virginia Robertson, President vrobertson@ pcipublishing. com FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Jane Coker jcoker@ pcipublishing. com 501.221.9986 • 800.561.4686 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC DEPARTMENTS: 6 l e t t e r s t o t h e e d i t o r 7 f r o m t h e c h a i r 8 f r o m t h e e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r 25 S u m m a r y o f A c t i o n s 28 t h e B r e a k R o o m 29 C l a s s i f i e d s 30 2 0 0 6 W o r k s h o p R e g i s t r a t i o n F o r m VOLUME 2 { NO 3 } EDITION 6 Table of AFQ ELECTION INCENTIVES FOR 2006 Workshop on Addressing Chemical Abuse/ Dependency Among Nurses 16 12 George named Director of Education/ Practice Department 13 15 Frequently Asked Questions C a r d l e s s L i c e n s u r e & L i s t i n g S y s t e m P l a n n e d f o r J a n . 2 0 0 7 19 21 I n t e r e s t e d i n C a m p N u r s i n g ? 17 SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR 2006 26 Numbers Support Rem e d i a t i o n I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote Stanley Receives Employee Excellence Award 6 CONTENTS s Publications well received Your publications are well received in our community. ANNA NICHOLS Branch Librarian Charles H. Stone Memorial Library Pilot Mountain, NC More modern and appealing Bulletin Thank you for the new, more modern and appealing Nursing Bulletin. I have received the Nursing Bulletin for nearly eleven years. The recent changes to a more magazine- style format have been very welcome. I enjoy browsing through the informa-tion that is important to me as a registered nurse here in North Carolina, but I have to admit that I enjoy the cartoons and the advertisements too. MINDY ROBINSON, RN Send letters to: Editor, Nursing Bulletin, North Carolina Board of Nursing, P. O. Box 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602- 2129 or Email, david@ ncbon. com e t t e r s t o t h e EDITO R L { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E D I T O R ‘ sNOTE Newspapers throughout the state recently reported on the poor voter turnout for the May primary elections. Now North Carolina nurses are again asked to elect members to the Board of Nursing. Make the effort to vote. Information about each candidate is included in this issue, and a Candidate Forum is available beginning June 30, 2006. Reverse the trend. Don’t let others speak for you. Online voting takes only minutes. Also, remember the incentive spa samplers: Someone has to win them— ask Joyce Norton, RN, winner of one of last year’s samplers! You can win only if you VOTE! I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote The 2006 recipient of the Board’s Employee Excellence Award is Jean Stanley, administrative assistant in the Education/ Practice Department. Stanley has more than 20 years of experience with the Board. She routinely deals with the state’s Rules Review Commission and works with advanced practice nurses and mid-wives throughout the state. Her dedication to customer service and her overall knowl-edge of the Board contribute significantly to helping the Board achieve its mission. The award recognizes the outstanding achievements of Board staff. Recipients are nominated by staff members. Congratulations, Jean Stanley! StanleyRECEIVES EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE AWARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC f r o m t h e C h a i r Greetings from the Chair Let me take this opportunity to encourage you to vote in the election of new Board Membership. We have three positions open this year: RN Staff Nurse, RN Nurse Educator at the Associate Degree or Diploma level, and LPN. The candi-date’s forum web cast will be available to you on the Board website at www. ncbon. com beginning June 30, 2006. In this web cast, you will be able to learn more about the candidate; their professional preparation and experiences, their beliefs about nursing practice, and their understanding of the contributions they might make to the functioning of your Board. I encourage you to study the candidates, and then…. VOTE!!! The electronic voting system will be open July 1 through August 15, 2006. It is quick and easy! Assuring continued competence of practicing nurses has been an important issue for regulatory boards in recent years, and North Carolina is no exception. In 2001 the Board charged a workgroup with the development of our response; and in 2003 and 2004 a pilot of both the process and tools occurred. In July 2005, the General Assembly enacted legislation to incorporate continued competence into the NC licensure/ renewal process, and these rules will be implemented beginning in July 2006. If you haven’t attended a workshop on continued competence in NC, you might want to register for sessions in Wilmington ( July 27), Asheville ( September 7) or Greenville ( October 18). If none of these dates fit your calendar, you can download the continuing competence web cast for self- study. Go to http:// www. ncbon. com/ prac- contcompwcast. asp Best wishes to you all for an enjoyable summer of work and leisure, good weath-er and great times with friends and family. Beverly Foster, PhD, RN 8 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . f r o m t h e E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r All of us in health care professions as well as the general public are concerned about patient safety in our complex health care delivery environment. Since the 1999 Institute of Medicine’s report – To Err is Human, there have been several state and nation-al initiatives to address the need for quality improvement in how care is deliv-ered. These initiatives, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Saving 100,000 Lives Campaign have focused primarily on improving our sys-tems of care. Since our first nursing laws in 1903, our Board of Nursing has been committed to enhancing the delivery of safe patient care through standard setting for individual licensees, for educational programs preparing individuals for licensure and for remediation or removal of unsafe practitioners. In January 2006, our Board of Nursing adopted its next 4- year Strategic Plan with the primary strategic initiatives to: ( 1) establish the Board of Nursing as a leader in patient safety; ( 2) maintain excellence in nursing regulation; ( 3) support the mobility of the nurse workforce while maintaining public protection; and ( 4) increase the congruence of education, practice and regulation for all levels of nursing care providers. Some of the activities that will support the achievement of these ini-tiatives include partnering with other health- related organizations to promote a learning and quality improvement culture, collecting and disseminating data to support patient safety decisions, implementing continued competence standards for all licensees, evaluating the current and evolving scopes of practice of all levels of licensees in relation to their educational preparation and licensure requirements, and developing a transition to practice model for new graduates entering the nursing workforce. Threaded throughout the Board’s focus on these strategic initiatives is our commitment to making the necessary regulatory changes that will support the delivery of safe, effective nursing care consistent with our Mission and Vision. As I review the commitment our Board has made to patient safety, I am reminded of the critical role our Board has in pro-tecting the public. Both our Board members and staff are fully committed to doing the “ right thing” for the public. I ask that each of you who are licensed nurses do the “ right thing” by participating in the election of Board members to assure that we maintain excellence in nursing regulation in North Carolina. See you at the Poles! Polly Johnson, RN, MSN, FAAN 12 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wo r k s h o p o n ADDRESSING Chemical Abuse/ Dependency A M O N G N U R S E S Date and Place Thursday, September 28, 2006 Women’s Hospital Education Center, Classrooms 1 & 2, Greensboro, N. C. The half- day program explores the issue of chemical abuse and dependency of nurses. The program will identify signs of chemical abuse from varied prospective areas along with a focus on the who, when and how of addiction. Issues involving treatment and re- entry into practice along with the best practices for healthcare facilities to secure controlled sub-stances will be discussed. A nurse with personal experience in the Alternative Program for Chemical Dependency sponsored by the N. C. Board of Nursing will share her story. Objectives 1. Describe the cycle of addiction 2. Identify signs of possible chemical abuse/ dependency in nurses 3. Describe professional reporting responsibilities and potential outcomes 4. Recognize issues related to re- entry into practice 5. Identify best practices related to reducing the potential for diversion Agenda 8: 00 – 8: 30am Registration ($ 50.00) 8: 30 – 8: 45am Welcome/ Opening Remarks ( Kay McMullan RN, Director of Investigation/ Monitoring) 8: 45 – 9: 15am The Who, When and How of Addiction ( Dr. Book, Addictionologist) 9: 15 – 9: 45am Identifying Signs of Possible Chemical Abuse ( Debbie Phillips RN, Nurse Manager; Mike Lamonds, Pharmacist; Beverly Essick RN, Risk Management,) 9: 45 – 10: 15am Professional Reporting and Actions ( Judy Knox RN, Manager of Drug Monitoring Programs; Jerry Ratley, SBI) 10: 15 – 10: 30am Break 10: 30 – 11: 10am Treatment and Re- entry Into Practice ( Dr. Book, Addictionologist; Debbie Phillips RN, Nurse Manager; Susan Jackson RN, Re- entry/ Reinstatement Committee) 11: 10 – 11: 30am Best Practices for Securing and Accounting for Controlled Substances ( Eleanor Moon RN, Consultant) 11: 30 – 11: 50am A Nurse’s Personal Experience ( recovering nurse who completed the Alternative Program) 11: 50 – 12: 10am Monitoring Outcomes ( Judy Knox RN, Manager of Drug Monitoring Programs) 12: 10 – 12: 30pm Panel Questions & Answers; Evaluation To register contact the Greensboro AHEC at 336- 832- 8025 or register on line at www. gahec. org/ courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC Julia L. George, RN, MSN has been named Director of the Education / Practice Department at the N. C. Board of Nursing replacing Linda Thompson RN, MSN who retired in April. George, who has been employed by the Board for ten years, was most recent-ly the Manager of ( PREP), Practitioner Remediation and Enhancement Partnership. Prior to working with the PREP program, George was a practice consultant. She started her career at the Board as an investigator. In 2005, George was the recipient of the Board’s Employee Excellence Award. A Registered Nurse for more than 30 years, George is also active in nursing regulation at the national level. She has served on several National Council of State Boards of Nursing committees and George has been selected as a “ Fellow” in the NCSBN’s Institute of Regulatory Excellence for the past 3 years. Georgenamed Director of Education/ Practice Department NORTH CAROLINA CLINICAL LAB. DAY Mark your calendar, Friday, August 4, 2006 at Wake Technical Community College 9101 Fayetteville Rd. in Raleigh. The focus of the 2nd annual North Carolina Clinical Laboratory Day is “ The Diabetes Challenge: Diagnosis, Education and Management”. The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health along with the North Carolina Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch of DHHS will co- host the conference. Participants will find the forum an opportunity to learn about the disease that is the sixth- leading cause of death in the United States. The conference is designed for healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, educators and clinical laboratory scientists. The conference fee is $ 30. For more informa-tion, call the Laboratory Improvement office at 919/ 733- 7186, or visit http:// slph. state. nc. us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC I renewed my license in July 2006. I work in critical care, and my learn-ing goal for my 2006– 2008 licensure peri-od is to obtain national certification in critical care nursing. I’ve chosen to accom-plish this through successful completion of the required examination. What documen-tation will I need to retain and provide as evidence if I’m selected for audit at my next renewal in July 2008? If audited in July 2008, you will be expected to provide a copy of your active certificate, which should include your name ( the licensee), the name of the certify-ing body, the date of certification, and the date of certification expiration. For your cer-tification to be acceptable as a learning goal that you have accomplished, you must have initially attained it during the licensure peri-od, or it must have been in effect during the entire licensure period, or you must have been recertified during the licensure period. I will renew my license in May 2007. I’m currently a stay- at- home mother, but I previously worked in pedi-atrics and plan to return to that specialty when my children are older. My learning A s FQ Frequently Asked Questions goal for my 2007– 2009 licensure period is to maintain and enhance my knowl-edge of the nursing care of children while I’m not actively employed. I’ve chosen to accomplish this through com-pletion of 30 contact hours of online and nursing journal continuing education offerings. What documentation will I need to retain and provide as evidence if I’m selected for audit at my next renewal in May 2009? If audited in May 2009, you will be expected to provide copies of the continuing education certificates ( totaling 30 contact hours) that you obtained on successful completion of each online or journal offering. The certificates should include your name ( the licensee), the title of the educational activity, the name of the recognized provider, the number of contact hours, and the date of the activity. I’ve seen information about profes-sional portfolios. Am I required to purchase or subscribe to a professional portfolio system to document and submit my continuing competence to the Board? No, you are not required to use a professional portfolio system ( elec-tronic or paper based) for documentation and submission of your continuing compe-tence. Although it is important that you maintain documentation of continuing education and professional activities for ready access if you are audited, you may do so in any manner of your choosing. Some licensees may find portfolio systems to be an attractive, effective record- keeping option, but such systems are not required or offered by the Board of Nursing. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. CONTINUING COMPETENCE 16 { Official Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An overwhelming majority of voters are pleased with our offering an incentive to those nurses in North Carolina who take the time to vote for candidates to the Board of Nursing. This year we are happy to announce that two spa- sampler pack-ages for two, have been made available to voters in the 2006 election. Generous donations, in support of nurses in North Carolina, have been made by; The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Ashville and The Spa at Pinehurst, North Carolina. Mark your calendar and vote in the 2006 election ( July 1st – August 15th) so you will be eligible to win these exciting spa sampler packages. E L E C T I O N I N C E N T I V E S F O R 2 0 0 6 The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa The Spa at Pinehurst SpAaaa a a a a a a a h h h h! RN SLATE OF CANDIDATES: RNS VOTE FOR RNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC SLATE OF CANDIDATESFOR 2006 LPN SLATE OF CANDIDATES: LPNS VOTE FOR LPNS # 1 NAME: DEBORAH L. JENKINS BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: I am a Durham, NC native, attended Durham Public Schools, 1980 graduate of Durham Technical Community College, obtained a diploma in Practical Nursing. I have twenty- five years of nursing experience in Pediatrics, Adult medicine, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Allergy, IV therapy and Pharmacology which includes calculating and administering medications. I currently work at Durham Pediatrics, a division of Duke University Health Systems. I am a member of NFLPNA and serve as Director on the Executive Board. I am also a member of NCLPNA and serve as Director and President of Durham area. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I am capable of making fair and impartial decisions during each Board meeting and hearing. I would ensure that LPNs are given a voice and made aware of changes in practice, policies, work rules and Board ethics. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . I understand and support the Board’s function and feel my presence and input would address that support. I also enjoy participating in the decision making processes which serve to uphold and maintain the quality and integrity of the nursing profession. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? I’ve worked 26 years as an LPN and have 2 years experience as a Board member which would be an asset to the effectiveness as well as knowledge of Board practice, ethics and policies. If elected, I will continue to provide professionalism, loyalty and service to both the Board and the public. # 1 NAME: ALEXIS B. WELCH POSITION: ADN/ Diploma Nurse Educator BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Education: AS Degree Mount Olive College, BSN, Atlantic Christian College, MA. Ed. East Carolina University, Ed. D. North Carolina State University. Experience: Registered Nurse since 1975; Licensed and practiced in North Carolina; Clinical Experience in MedSurg, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Psych, Home Health, Nursing Consultant; Educator in ADN, PN, and diploma nursing programs. Perspective: Currently, Dean of Health Sciences at Lenoir Community College and Director of the ADN and PN programs; Liaison to University Schools of Nursing; Representative on North Carolina Board of Nursing Committees/ Task Forces as requested; EAHEC nursing advisory committee; Member: NCADN Director, NCADN Council, NCNA. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I have been licensed 31 years as a RN and continue to work in education and practice. As a current NC Board of Nursing member, I am familiar with the Nursing Practice Act and the issues challenging nurses in the healthcare delivery systems today. To serve the nurses and public of North Carolina is a call-ing. To meet the challenges facing health care through public service, I am committed to serving you I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . If re- elected to the NC Board of Nursing, I will continue to promote standards ensuring safe, quality nursing care to all patients. I am committed to keeping licensed nurses at the bedside. In my present term on the NC Board of Nursing, I have recognized the value of listening to all nurses and believe that the Board is the voice for the collective needs of the nurses and the public we serve. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? My nursing experience prepares me to serve the citizens of North Carolina and represent nurses in all practice settings. My desire for unparalleled nursing care is influenced by my roles as a consumer, mother, daughter and friend. # 2 NAME: PAUL J. RUSK BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: My educational background is BA Sociology UNC- Wilmington 1981; Cape Fear Technical College Licensed Practical Nurse, 1982. I currently have 24 years experience. I worked 22 1/ 2 years at New Hanover Regional Medical Center - five years on the Dialysis Unit and the last 17 1/ 2 years on the Cardiac Telemetry Unit. I presently work as the Director of Assisted Living Azalea Place for Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehab Center. I have held this position for the last 1 1/ 2 years. I also am a current BCIS Instructor for American Heart for which I have done for 18 years. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I offer a dedication to protecting the public. This is done by ensuring the nurses of North Carolina remain competent and safe to practice. I have six years of experience serving on the board which provides me with a greater knowledge of opera-tions of the board. In addition, I offer 24 years of nursing experience. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . I have a long background in nursing. I have six years experience on the Board from 1998 to 2003. I feel I have a lot to offer the LPNs of the state because of my background. I am dedicated to keeping the LPN practice while helping to keep all nurses competent in their practices. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? Because of my years in nursing and prior experience on the Board, I have a good understanding of how the board functions and the needs of nurses and public safety. # 2 NAME: JANICE S. MCRORIE POSITION: ADN/ Diploma Nurse Educator BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Education: MSN 1987 University of South Carolina; BSN 1979 University of North Carolina; ADN 1974 Central Piedmont Community College. Work experience: 2004 – present, Full time Faculty, Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University of Charlotte; 1988 – 2004, Full time fac-ulty, Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing; 1992 – 1998, part time Clinical Faculty, UNC- Charlotte; 1978 – 1988, Patient Education Nurse, Charlotte Pediatric Clinic; 1974 – 1978, Staff Nurse, Charlotte Memorial Hospital. Current employer: Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I bring experience in regard to the working of the Board. My previous tenure as a member of the Board of Nursing and my three years elected as Chair of the Board gives me an excellent working knowledge of how the Board goes about fulfilling its mandate to protect the public. I can be effective immediately. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . II have always felt committed to the nurses of North Carolina and still after 32 years am proud to say I am a registered nurse. I think the NC Board of Nursing is committed to excellence in regulation and I want to be a part of that process. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? I bring experience in practice as well as education. I am committed to a fair decision making process and being sure that all sides have a chance to voice an opinion before decisions are made. I have the energy and the dedication to work hard on some of the issues currently before the Board as well as issues that will come up in the future. I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote # 4 NAME: SARA A. GRIFFITH BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: I am a Staff Nurse III at WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina. I hold a BSN in nursing from East Carolina University. Currently I am seeking a Master of Science in Nursing Education from East Carolina University. I began at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in July 2000 on a trauma/ general/ vascular surgical unit. In 2002, I moved to Raleigh and continued nursing on a cardiovascular surgical intermediate unit at WakeMed. I have held the following staff nurse positions: car-diovascular educator, new graduate preceptor, and RN refresher preceptor. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? To the public of North Carolina, I will offer the ability to problem- solve effectively with self- confidence, honesty and integrity. Utilize my communication, assessment and discipline skills to embody the mission and vision of the Board of Nursing. The ability to address sit-uations related to the health, safety and welfare of the public with an open mind and understanding patient safety is key. I offer a strong education background to compliment my knowledge of nursing. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . Being a member of the North Carolina Board of Nursing would be a life- long goal to make contributions to the profession of nursing that could impact practice as well as patient care. Nursing practice is demanding change and requires proactive steps to direct policy initiatives. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? In the 6 years I have been a registered nurse, I have witnessed the ever changing practice of nursing. This experience has given me the ability to easily adapt to change. My experience as Patient Safety Resource Nurse, has given me insight into the many challenges nurses face in providing safe, effective nursing care 18 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STAFF NURSE # 1 NAME: DEBRA L. COSTON BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: My name is Debra Coston, a Staff Nurse in the Surgical Trauma ICU at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC. UNC- W became my educational home in 1973, where I completed my Associate’s Degree in Nursing. I have worked with education in the STICU to include CCRN reviews, hemodynamic classes, Critical Care and Core Curriculum classes. Accomplishments include: creating acuity systems, shared governance finance counsel member, NC Nursing Excellence 2001, preceptorship, publishing in a trauma text, established the Network’s Critical Care Conference, mentorship, Network coordi-nator ACLS and PALS, CCRN certification. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I offer listening and a willingness to see things finished. I want the public to feel safe and understand that I want to investigate what is necessary and help to make avenues that increase safety to the public. I also speak as a patient advocate and as a caregiver at the bedside. Best practices, new technologies and deal-ing with physicians on behalf of patients and their families are consistently on the agenda. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . After having served a previous term, I now have a greater understanding of how the Board functions. I also am aware of the continuing needs of nurses across North Carolina. This gives me opportunity to be available to create a progression of nursing in North Carolina. Also, I want to be involved with the future of nursing and my future as a potential patient with high expectations. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? After 29 years in a critical care arena of ever changing technology and critical thinking as well as multitasking, I believe the contribution I make is multifaceted. This experience gives me the ability to look at a situation, consider all of the functions and dysfunctions of the body and come to a logical and timely decision to either prevent further damage or create an idea to help correct the situation. # 2 NAME: CHRISTINE C. DALTON BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: I received an Associates Degree in Nursing from Davidson Community College in 1998. I initially worked in a nursing home and then moved to the acute care setting at High Point Regional Health System where I obtained experience in orthopedic, bariatric, neurological and infusion nursing. Presently, I work full- time as an IV nurse. I am also a member of NCNA and serve as secretary for District 9. I am a member of the NCINS and INS. I worked with the Nursing Strategic Planning Committee for over a year. I have been honored by being nominated for the 2006 Great 100. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? I commit myself to serve the public by being their representative on the Board, by acknowl-edging their rights and their needs for compassionate nursing care and by recognizing the issues that affect their receiving the care they desire and deserve. Secondly, I commit my voice to speak for the public and to keep their needs at the forefront of all decisions that are made on their behalf and to promote change where it is needed. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . I am committed to being involved at the state level where I can feel that I have had a small part impacting the nursing profession and patient care. I believe the North Carolina Board of Nursing has been the pace setter in recognizing healthcare issues and being proactive in supporting not only patients, but also nurses. From making decisions about regulatory con-straints to developing protocols for licensure, the Board speaks for all nurses. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? Having worked in the subacute and acute care settings, I have first- hand experience into the issues that affect patient care and the nursing profession in these practice settings. I have listened intently to nurses throughout each setting as to what they are looking for within the profession and why they do or do not stay within the profession. I believe that I can offer a prospective that supports both the patient and the professional nurse. # 3 NAME: DEBRA Y. RICHARDSON BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: I am a private duty nurse employed with Maxim Healthcare Services. I have more than 20 years experience in the hospital, home health and primary care settings. I obtained my Diploma degree in Nursing at Lenoir Memorial School of Nursing in 1982 in Kinston, North Carolina. I have experience in Diabetic Teaching, Infusion Therapy, Wound Care, Enteral Feeds, Chemo- therapy, Perinatal Nursing, Pediatrics and Adult Asthma Self Teaching. I also have experience establishing policies and procedures with Policy and Procedure Committee in hospital settings. I am planning to pursue a Master’s in Nursing in the fall. What do I have to offer the public of North Carolina if I am elected to the Board of Nursing? With more than 20 years experience in the hospital, home health and primary care settings as well as my experience with Pediatrics, Diabetes, Infusion Therapy, Wound Care, Enteral Feeds, Chemotherapy, Perinatal Nursing, Pediatric and Adult Asthma Self Teaching, I hope to make a difference in the deliverance of safe, effective nursing care to the public. I would like to serve on the North Carolina Board of Nursing because. . . With the ever growing shortage of nurses, I feel the need to protect the health and welfare of the public. I hope that I can make a difference as a member of the North Carolina Board of Nursing by assuring safe and effective, as well as, sound nursing care and judgment to the public. How will the experience you have had as a nurse contribute to the Board’s work? With my 20 years plus experience in the hospital, home health and primary care environment, I hope to make a difference in our nursing profession to ensure that the public receives the safest and most effective nursing care they deserve. I t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e ! Vote & . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC DIRECTIONS Beginning July 1, you can have a direct impact on nursing issues in North Carolina by voting in this year’s election of nurse members of the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Your certificate number and four- digit PIN combine to become a unique identifier that allows you to vote in the 2006 elec-tions. Your PIN is located in the upper- right corner of the mail-ing label affixed to this issue of Nursing Bulletin. If you cannot read or locate your PIN, simply provide the information requested by the electronic election system, and it will issue your PIN. You can vote by telephone or via the Internet starting on July 1. The last day to vote is August 15, 2006. Remember that you can do this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE: Dial the Board’s special toll- free number, 1- 877- 531- 1811. Listen to the directions, and enter your candidate selection ( via push- button from a touch- tone phone). TO VOTE ONLINE: Log on to the Board’s website at www. ncbon. com, click on the Election 2006 link, and follow the instructions. The system for either telephone or Internet voting will confirm your voter eligibility and tabulate results electronically. The slate of candidates for 2006 is included in this mailing of the Bulletin. In it you will find biographical and practice information about the candidates, as well as their personal reasons for wanting to be members of the Board of Nursing. Please read and follow directions carefully. As you review the information provided by candidates, remember that you don’t have to know each candidate on the slate personally to make a selection. Instead, take the time to review each candidate’s background informa-tion and his or her stated reasons for wanting to serve on the Board of Nursing. Then cast your vote for the candidate who you feel is most qualified. We urge each of you to take the time to vote for the candidate of your choice via tele-phone or Internet. It is fast, it is easy, and it makes a difference! Participating in the elec-tion is a significant way to influence the deci-sions that affect your practice of nursing in North Carolina. If you have any questions regarding the slate of candidates or the electronic election system, contact Angela Ellis at the Board office, ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 259, or angela@ ncbon. com. Voting CARDLESS LICENSURE & LISTING SYSTEM PL ANNED FOR JAN. 2007 Beginning in January 2007, the N. C. Board of Nursing is going cardless. Consistent with the new Cardless Licensure and Listing System, initial licens-es issued by examination and endorsement ( to include both temporary and permanent), as well as, initial nurse aide II listings issued on and after January 1, 2007 will be electronic. Newly licensed RNs and LPNs will continue receiving the original Certificate of Registration; and nurse aide IIs will receive a notice of initial listing. License/ Listing renewals with a January 31, 2007 expiration date will not receive a card. Instead, the RN, LPN and nurse aide II will receive a written notice of licensure/ list-ing with directions on how to verify their licensure status online or by using the automated telephone verification system. In 2003, GS 90- 171.43A – Mandatory Employer Verification of Licensure Status was added to the Nursing Practice Act. It requires a health care facility to verify that each nurse holds a current, valid license to practice nursing at the time of employ-ment. The Joint Commission on Accreditation for Health Organizations ( JCAHO) standards now require employers of nurses to access primary source data for license verification. The electronic licensure files are updated daily and our database serves as the primary source for licensure informa-tion about nurses in North Carolina. The Board pro-vides free access to its nurse and nurse aide licen-sure/ listing database for the purpose of verification by employers, licensees and the public. By Fall 2006 our licensure verification system will be upgraded to provide easy access to public licensure and discipli-nary information for N. C. licensees. The Cardless Licensure/ Listing System has several advantages: • Eliminates Lost, Stolen and Duplicate Licenses/ Listings; • Eliminates Imposters using fraudulent plas-tic/ paper licenses/ listings • Assists employers in satisfying JCAHO stan-dards requiring the use of primary source data for license verification; • Provides quicker access by employers and the public to disciplinary information. • Assists employers in complying with GS 90- 171.43A – Mandatory Employer Verification of Licensure Status; • Increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the Board of Nursing in administering its regula-tory activities. Look for more information on the Cardless Licensure/ Listing System in future editions of the Bulletin and online. Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What am I going to show my employer? They always want to see my new license. R1. Your employer can access your licensure information directly from the NC Board Nursing database, which is the primary source for nurse licensure information. The database can be accessed via telephone at 919- 881- 2272 or on our website www. ncbon. com. Q2. How will I know if my license has been renewed? R2. You will receive a postcard notice that your license has been renewed containing directions on how to verify your licensure sta-tus online or by telephone. Q3. I’m doing a travel assignment in another compact state. How can my new employ-er verify my multi- state privilege practice? R3. Your employer can access our database to verify your multi- state privilege or contact www. nursys. org { Official Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nurses Represent North Carolina in NCLEX Item Development The following nurses represented North Carolina in the NCLEX item development program for the first quarter of 2006. • Carolyn Ophelia Baker: Alternate, 1/ 18/ 06 RN Item Writing Panel • Johnnie Martin Guttery: Member, 3/ 1/ 06 RN Item Review Panel • Nida Dawn Mullins: Member, 1/ 18/ 06 RN Item Writing Panel • Kathryn Diane Josephson Ryn: Member, 3/ 26/ 06 RN Item Review Panel • Sherry D. Smith: 2/ 1/ 06 Candidate, PN Item Review Panel • Elizabeth L. Turner: Alternate, 2/ 13/ 06 RN Item Writing Panel For application and re The Board of Nursing and Greensboro AHEC will be offering a conference titled " Addressing Substance Abuse/ Dependency Among Nurses" from 8: 30am to 12: 30pm on Thursday September 28, 2006. Plan to come and interact with various " experts" related to this issue. More information located on page 12 and on the Board’s website regarding registration. Hold the Date! Sept. 28th 8: 30 am- 12: 30 pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC Interested in Camp Nursing? Each year the Board of Nursing receives an influx of questions related to being a camp nurse. Limited resources are available to help nurses understand the role. This article is an attempt to help them be better prepared. If you are considering camp nursing, it is a good idea to look into your options ahead of time. You must be licensed in the state where the camp is located or have a privilege to practice in that state via the Interstate Compact. Whether you are working as a volunteer or in a paid position, you have the legal responsibility and are accountable for practicing according to the standards for nursing practice in the state in which you will be working. A remote campground may offer you a beautiful, peaceful setting, but it also requires you to be comfortable with your emergency skills. You must be prepared to make judgment calls, often with no second opinion. Because of the degree of independent and autonomous functioning of a camp nurse, the level of practice is that of an RN. An LPN may work in this setting only under the direct supervision of an RN or another authorized provider. As a camp nurse, you will have a broad range of responsibilities. You need to know the population that you will be serving ( age and health status). Specialty camps serve children with a variety of physical, behavioral, and emotional needs. Therefore you will need a variety of skills, including good communication, assessment, critical thinking, and problem solving. In addition, you will need to have sound clinical knowledge of blood- borne pathogens, universal precautions, first aid, CPR, airway management, medications, and environmental hazards. These skills, along with a good sense of humor, should ensure that you are prepared to meet the challenges of being a camp nurse. One of the primary duties of the camp nurse is to make sure that campers take their medications and that children with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy are appropriately monitored. You should review the camp’s policies, procedures, and protocols for guidance related to assessment, treatment of minor ill-nesses and trauma, and documentation. It is advisable that you identify the standing medication orders for over- the-counter medications and ensure that these orders include dosing instructions. You must be prepared to respond to accidents or injuries, communicable dis-eases, environmental injuries and illnesses, discomfort problems, heat- related illnesses, chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asth-ma, and emotional afflictions such as home-sickness. Following are some questions that the Board is frequently asked about camp nursing: • Does the nurse have to maintain records? Yes, the nurse always must keep records of assessments performed, interventions ( medications and treatments), responses to interventions, contacts made, and follow- up requirements. • What is the nurse’s responsibility regarding the administration of medica-tions sent with campers in dispensers or pill- planner boxes instead of the original labeled medication bottles? Generally speaking, medications should not be accepted unless they are in their orig-inal containers from the pharmacy. This information should be made clear to the par-ents before the camp experience. The nurse cannot be accountable for administering medications that he or she cannot verify. • What should the nurse do if the med-ication dosing instructions are different from those on the medication label? When this occurs, the nurse must verify with the physician the correct dosing instructions. • Can a nurse delegate medication administration to unlicensed staff if the camper is participating in an activity that is away from the health center? Administration of epi- pens and sched-uled medication doses can be delegated to unlicensed staff, provided that they have received adequate training and the parents have agreed to allow this practice. The nurse is responsible for education of the camper and direction of unlicensed staff. If this area of nursing is of interest to you, and you would like to learn more, con-tact the Association for Camp Nurses, at www. campnurse. org. If you are a camp nurse and have questions about nursing reg-ulation, contact a practice consultant at ( 919) 782- 3211. KATHY CHASTAIN, RN, MN, Practice Consultant 22 { Official Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF NURSING CALENDAR Board Meeting September 21– 22, 2006 Education/ Practice Committee August 24, 2006 December 7, 2006 Licensure Committee August 8– 9, 2006 October 3– 4, 2006 December 5– 6, 2006 Settlement Committee August 11, 2006 September 8, 2006 October 27, 2006 December 1, 2006 Administrative Hearings July 20– 21, 2006 October 19– 20, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC NATIONAL COUNCIL Seeks Input on Current LPN Entry- level Nursing Practice The National Council of State Board of Nursing ( NCSBN) is launching a practice analysis study designed to describe entry-level LPN practice. Using a survey developed by a panel of experts that included practicing LPNs from a variety of practice settings and specialty areas was as LPN educators, a sam-ple of LPNs will be asked to determine the frequency of performance and the impor-tance of ach of the activities listed. The results of the survey will be used to evaluate the current LPN test plan in an effort to assure that the NCLEX- PN examination reflects existing practice. This LPN survey will begin in June 2006. NCSBN encourages nurses receiving the sur-vey to complete and return it as soon as pos-sible. If you have any questions about the survey, contact NCLEX information at 866- 293- 9600 or email nclexinfo@ ncsbn. org. LEGAL SCOPE OF PRACTICE WORKSHOP NOW AVAILABLE O N L I N E By popular demand the Legal Scope of Practice Workshop now is available as an online educational offering. The fee is $ 40, and 2.8 contact hours will be awarded for successful completion of the course. Access is granted for three weeks. The Board will continue to offer the Legal Scope of Practice Workshop at the Board office quarterly ( on the basis of interest) for those who wish to attend. Instructions for Taking the Online Course Go to www. ncbon. com. Under Recent Announcements, click on Legal Scope of Practice Online Course. Click on Course Registration, and enter your information along with pay-ment. It is recommended that you print out the handouts. Click on Begin Course. At the end of the course, click on Posttest and Evaluation. Then print your certificate of completion. MEDS PUBLISHING ONLINE COURSES OFFERED The Board continues to offer the following MEDS Publishing online courses: • Series I— Dosage and Calculation Made Easy ( 6 modules) • Series II— Pharmacology Made Easy ( 10 modules) For details about either offering, visit the Board’s website, www. ncbon. com, and under General Information, click on Meds Publishing Online Courses. Or contact Pamela Trantham, practice enhancement coordinator, at ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 279, or via e- mail at Pamela@ ncbon. com. MEDICATION AIDE INFO On Website Updated information regarding Medication Aides has been added to the Board’s web-site. This information includes: General Information, Frequently Asked Questions, Law and Rules and RN Medication Aide Instructor Information. All this material is currently at www. ncbon. com click on Medication Aides on the homepage. NOTICE UPDATE NC CRNA RECOGNITION All CRNAs are expected to renew their national certification biannually in July. Approximately 60 days prior to expiration of the national certification, the Board sends the CRNA a notice that the recognition is approaching expiration. To update current NC CRNA Recognition, you must be within 60 days of expiring. For your convenience, go to www. ncbon. com to update your CRNA Recognition online. REMINDER POSTCARDS TO UPDATE CRNA RECOGNITION WERE MAILED THE LAST WEEK OF MAY 2006. The postcard provides the needed information and instructions regarding CRNA Recognition Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC SUMMARY of ACTIONS In keeping with public records and open meetings laws, the North Carolina Board of Nursing posts all actions in the Nursing Bulletin or on its website, at www. ncbon. com. A regular meeting of the Board was held on May 18- 19, 2006, in Raleigh. The following is a summary of the Board’s actions. From the May 18- 19, 2006, Board Meeting ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS • Approved the proposed fiscal year 2006– 2007 budget • Authorized staff to make minor or clarify-ing revisions to 21 NCAC 36.0208, 36.0217( c) 19 and 21, and 36.0219, and then proceed with the rule- making process consistent with the migration to a cardless licensure/ listing system • Approved revisions to the following rules of 21 NCAC 36.0800, Approval and Practice Parameters for Nurse Practitioners: 0801, Definitions; .0802, Scope of Practice; .0803, Nurse Practitioner Registration; .0804, Process for Approval to Practice; .0805, Education and Certification Requirements for Registration as a Nurse Practitioner; .0806, Annual Renewal; .0807, Continuing Education; .0808, Inactive Status; .0809, Prescribing Authority; .0810, Quality Assurance Standards for a Collaborative Practice Agreement; .0811, Method of Identification; .0812, Disciplinary Action; .0813, Fees; and .0814, Practicing during a Disaster • Amended revisions to 21 NCAC 36.0318 Faculty to delete the requirement for mas-ter's level preparation pending decision regarding requirement for a fiscal note and proceed with the rule revision process with a proposed effective date of August 1, 2006. Rationale: Rule revisions for the nurse prac-titioner approved by the Board of Nursing and the Medical Board became effective August 1, 2004. Among other things these revisions strengthened the educational requirements and allowed the nurse practi-tioner to register to use the NP title. Since the rules have been in effect for two years and staff has worked with the revisions, some clarifications need to be addressed. EDUCATION AND PRACTICE MATTERS EDUCATION MATTERS: • Ratified full approval status Vance Granville Community College, Henderson— ADN Vance Granville Community College, Henderson— PNE • Ratified expansions in enrollment Beaufort County Community College, Washington— ADN: an increase of 40 for a total of 120, effective spring 2007 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Hudson— ADN: an increase of 6 for a total of 116, effective spring 2006 Richmond Community College, Hamlet— ADN: three clinical groups of 11, for spring 2006 Rowan- Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury— ADN: an increase of 20 for a total of 140, effective fall 2006; alternate scheduling— evening/ weekend Surry Community College, Dodson— PNE: an increase of 5 for a total of 35, effective spring 2006 • Granted initial approval South Piedmont Community College, Monroe— ADN, beginning fall 2006 Item highlighted above to be determined at the Board meeting • Granted full approval Bladen Community College, Dublin— ADN PRACTICE MATTERS: • Received, for the Board’s information, a revision to the statement “ The Role of the Licensed Nurse in Providing Complementary Therapies.” Statement available at www. ncbon. com, under the Practice Department link, or by calling ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 244. • Approved the statement “ The Role of the LPN in Assessing and Categorizing Wounds.” Statement available at www. ncbon. com, under the Practice Department link, or by calling ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 244. • Approved the master teacher recertifi-cation requirements for medication aide instructors INVESTIGATION AND MONITORING ACTIONS • Received reports and granted absolu-tions to 1 RN and 1 LPN • Removed probation from the license of 12 RNs and 1 LPN • Denied reinstatement to 1 RN and 2 LPNs • Accepted voluntary surrenders from 20 RNs and 6 LPNs • Suspended the license of 5 RNs and 2 LPNs • Reinstated the license of 11 RNs and 5 LPNs • Accepted a consent to surrender the privilege to practice— under interstate compact— from 1 RN • In accordance with G- S. 110- 142.1, took action on 2 RN licenses ( suspend-ed) and 5 NAII listing cards ( 1 revoked, 4 not eligible to renew) Number of participants in the Alternative Program for Chemical Dependency: 110 RNs and 11 LPNs Number of participants in the Chemical Dependency Discipline Program: 61 RNs and 9 LPNs Number of participants in the Illicit Drug Program: 28 RNs and 13 LPNs . BEGINNING JUNE 30TH YOU CAN VIEW THE CANDIDATE FORUM. VISIT NCBON. COM AND CLICK ON THE ELECTION LOGO TO REVIEW THIS INFORMATION 26 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Numbers Support REMEDIATION The Board’s Practice Improvement and Regulation Committee provides direct oversight of all practice competency and misconduct issues related to licensed nurses. This article reports on the Board’s progress in implementing its philosophy of remediation and a nonpunitive approach to resolving competency issues and addressing activities involving misconduct. PRACTICE- RELATED COMPLAINTS All practice issues are reviewed by prac-tice consultants to ensure consistency in review of complaints as well as assessment or appropriate remediation before punitive action is considered. In 2005, practice con-sultants reviewed 457 practice- related com-plaints, and they resolved 390 ( 85%) at this level of inquiry. The most common types of allegations ( 68%) related to patients’ rights, such as lack of respect, inappropriate interactions, and breach of confidentiality, and to patient care, such as neglect, abandon-ment, medication errors, and failure to maintain standards. Most practice- related complaints ( 85%) were resolved with no further action, indi-cating that no violation was found, or through a letter of concern, indicating that although there was no actual violation of the Nursing Practice Act, the licensee was alerted that continued practice of the kind that brought on the complaint might lead to competency issues requiring Board inter-vention. Of the 390 complaints resolved at this level, 15% were referred for further investigation and possible discipline. The Practitioner Remediation and Enhancement Partnership ( PREP) program continues to be a viable option for licensees to address, in a voluntary, non-disciplinary, non- punitive environment, competency issues that do not involve an actual violation of the Nursing Practice Act. However, the nurse must be willing to accept responsibility and accountability for competency issues, and he or she must have the motivation to improve his or her practice. In 2005, fifty- three candidates were referred to PREP. Eighty- seven per-cent were eligible for participation, most of them registered nurses ( 67%). Referrals came from all types of facilities, with hospi-tals and long- term care facilities providing an almost equal number. The majority of referrals were for exceeding scope of prac-tice ( 35%). Medication errors ranked sec-ond highest ( 22%). Unfortunately, many nurses continue to be reported to the Board without first being considered for non- punitive remediation by the employer. This is evident from the fact that 64% of PREP participants were referred by Board staff after practice com-plaints were reported to the Board. Consistent with the Board’s strategic plan and compatible with the PREP philos-ophy, the program will continue to work toward a “ just culture,” focused on learning collectively from errors rather than placing blame on individuals who make errors. INVESTIGATIONS In 2005, four hundred forty- seven com-plaints related to such issues as misconduct, drug diversion, impairment, and criminal behavior were referred directly for investi-gation. The number of drug- related cases increased from the year before, and this kind of case represented the greatest num-ber of violations. Most of the drug cases involved the use or the handling of con-trolled substances. INTERSTATE COMPACT ISSUES With the Interstate Compact, all licensees practicing in North Carolina on the privilege are offered all options for complaint resolution. Five practice com-plaints related to licensees practicing in this state through the Interstate Compact. Three of these nurses were referred to the PREP program, one was referred for inves-tigation, and the case of one was resolved with no further action. MONITORING AND PROBATION An average of 4 licensees per month successfully completed their probationary licenses in 2005, compared with 3 per month in 2004. The average number of licenses suspended in 2005 was less than 1 per month, compared with 2.5 per month in 2004. When noncompliance issues were identified, staff provided licensees with an opportunity to explain why they were not meeting the probationary conditions and also provided any further clarification needed regarding the probationary condi-tions. These quality- improvement measures have contributed to a decrease in the num-ber of licensees being suspended for failure to comply with probationary conditions. Thus the Board is keeping more licensees in the workforce and decreasing costs to the licensee and the Board. DRUG- MONITORING PROGRAMS The Board has four drug- monitoring programs: • Alternative Program for Chemical Dependency ( AP)— nonpublic, nondis-ciplinary; licensee admits chemical dependency, participates voluntarily • Chemical Dependency Discipline Program ( CDDP)— public, disciplinary; licensee must participate if he or she does “ Unfortunately, many nurses continue to be reported to the Board, without first being considered for non- punitive remediation by the employer.” } CAROL SWINK, RN, PHD Associate Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC not meet the criteria for the AP. • Probationary Licensees who are drug screening ( ProbS)— public, disciplinary; evidence suggests substance issues; drug screening required • Illicit Drug Program ( IDP)— nonpub-lic, non- disciplinary; positive pre-employment or random drug screen, with no evidence of impairment on duty; licensee denies, and has no diagnosis of, chemical dependency; drug screening required In December 2005 there were 234 par-ticipants in all drug- monitoring programs, compared with 193 participants in December 2004. This represents a 21% increase in volume. The number of partici-pants in the AP and ProbS remained rela-tively constant, whereas the number of par-ticipants in the CDDP and the IDP increased. It was anticipated that the num-ber of participants in the IDP would increase once the pre- employment drug screens were added on July 1, 2004. The reasons for the increase in the CDDP are less clear, and annual growth is difficult to predict for this program. Seventeen participants completed the AP in 2005. In terms of overall success of the program since its inception in 1994, sev-enty- eight nurses have successfully complet-ed the required three years of monitoring after returning to nursing practice. Only nine participants are known to have relapsed after completion of the program. This represents an 88% success rate. One of the objectives of the AP is to assist nurses in returning to the workplace in a timely man-ner after demonstrating evidence of being grounded in their recovery. In 2005, sixty-eight nurses returned to work. In the past they would have been out of practice for a minimum of one year. The Board’s philosophy of remediation versus punishment now is a reality. The challenge to search for appropriate assess-ment and remediation tools for competency-related issues continues. So does the chal-lenge to involve the employer and the Board in a more comprehensive collaborative approach to resolving competency issues ear-lier in order to keep the nurse in the work-place while maintaining the goal of patient safety. The Board will move forward on using an evidenced- based decision- making approach to meet these challenges. BOARD CREATES POSITION OF COMPLAINT COORDINATOR In July 2005 the Board created the position of complaint coordinator to establish a central location for receiving and processing all complaints. The Board receives an average of 850 complaints each year. Because each complaint is unique and important, the complaint coordinator reviews complaints on an individual basis to ensure proper processing. It is preferable that all complaints be submitted on the complaint form to assist the Board in processing and investigating the complaint. Following are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the filing of a complaint. Q. Who may file a complaint? Anyone may file a complaint. Sources of complaints related to licensees are employers, co- workers, patients, family members of patients, law enforce-ment agencies, self- reports, and referrals from other regulatory agencies. Q. How do I file a complaint? Complaint forms are available at the Board’s web-site, www. ncbon. com, under Complaint Info. Two types of forms appear there: Illicit Drug Complaints and General Complaints. If you do not have access to the Web, request a form by contacting Complaint Coordinator, P. O. Box 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602, or ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 282. When you are ready to submit the complaint, send it to the address on the complaint form, fax it to ( 919) 781- 9461, or e- mail it to complaint@ ncbon. com. Q. May I report my complaint to the Board of Nursing via tele-phone? Yes, telephone complaints are accepted but need to be followed up in writing. We must have the specifics of the complaint, including who, what, where, and when, with any supporting documenta-tion that is available. Not having the written docu-mentation will hamper our ability to investigate the complaint fully. Q. What is the difference between the two complaint forms under the Complaint Info link on the website? • ILLICIT DRUG COMPLAINTS AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTION — Use this form to report a positive pre- employment or random drug screen. A failed drug screen performed for cause with evidence of impairment on duty should not be reported on this form. • GENERAL COMPLAINTS— Use this form to report anything other than a positive pre- employment or random drug screen. Q. I notice that the complaint form requests the Social Security number and the certifi-cate number. What if I do not know this information? It is helpful to have this identifying information, for there are more than 122,000 licensed nurses in North Carolina. Before launching an investigation of a licensee, the Board uses extreme caution in validating the identify of the nurse being reported. more COMPLAINT Q& As on the next page Tammy Horne, Complaint Coordinator If you do not know the Social Security number or the certificate number of the licensee you are reporting, please submit your complaint with as much information as possible. If you have the licensee’s home address, telephone number, place of employment, or other such information, we can explore these avenues to ensure proper identification of the nurse being reported. Q. What conduct by a nurse should be reported to the Board? Any suspected violation of the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act should be reported. For a copy of the act, visit our website, www. ncbon. com, and click on Nursing Practice Act/ Rules. The Board has no authority over such matters as employment issues, rudeness to peers, dis-putes with co- workers, personality conflicts, absen-teeism, tardiness, refusal of assignment, and labor- man-agement disputes such as work schedules, wages, and termination. Q. May I submit an anonymous complaint? Yes, anonymous complaints are accepted. However, we still must have the specifics of the complaint: who, what, where, and when. Also, not having a com-plainant’s name will hamper our ability to investigate the complaint fully. Q. Will you protect my identity if I list myself as the complainant? If charges are brought against a licensee that you reported to us, you may be required to testify, and the licensee has the right to see the original complaint. To review a complaint form visit our homepage www. ncbon. com and click on complaint info. { Official Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMPLAINT Q& As continued from previous page the BREAK r o o m 30 { Of f i c i a l Publication of the NORTH CAROLINA Board of Nursing } . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NC Board of Nursing Workshop Registration Form 2006 Please check the appropriate Workshop Below Continuing Competence Update Information sessions related to future board requirements for demonstration of Continuing Competence. No fee required for these sessions. Contact Hours pending. __ July 27, 2006 - Wilmington – 10a. m. – 11: 30a. m New Hanover Regional Medical Center 2131 South 17th Street AHEC Auditorium __ August 21, 2006 - Fayetteville – 10a. m. – 11a. m. Fayetteville AHEC 1601 Owen Drive 2nd Floor Auditorium __ September 7, 2006 - Asheville, 1– 2: 30 p. m. Mission Hospital Memorial Campus, Kate Reynolds Classroom 509 Biltmore Avenue __ September 18, 2006 - Raleigh NC Board of Nursing 3724 National Drive – Ste 201 SELECT ONLY ONE SESSION ___ 10a. m. – 11a. m. – Session 1 ___ 1p. m. – 2p. m. – Session 2 __ October 18, 2006 - Greenville, 11a. m.– 12 p. m. Pitt County Memorial Hospital 2100 Stantonsburg Road Hospital Auditorium __ October 26, 2006 - Charlotte – 10a. m.- 11a. m. Charlotte AHEC 5039 Airport Center Parkway – Bldg K – Classroom 15 Questions/ Directions? Contact Paulette at ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 244, or via e- mail at PAULETTE@ ncbon. com. If you unable to attend one of these workshops, please go to: http:// www. ncbon. com/ prac- contcompwcast. asp to view the web cast available 24/ 7. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRINT CONTINUING COMPETENCE DOCUMENTS AND RECEIVE CONTACT HOURS. Legal Scope of Practice ( Raleigh at NCBON, 10: 00 a. m.– 1: 05 p. m.) The purpose of this offering is to provide information and clarification regarding the legal scope of practice parameters for licensed nurses in North Carolina. Contact Hours offered. __ Aug 16, 2006 __ Nov 15, 2006 ( Limit of 20 people per workshop) Orientation Sessions for Administrators of Nursing Services and Mid- Level Nurse Managers Information sessions regarding the functions of the Board of Nursing and the impact of these functions on the roles of the chief nurse administrator and the mid- level nurse manager in all types of nursing service set-tings. Contact Hours offered. Registration at least two weeks in advance of scheduled session is required. If you wish to review materials before the session, call ( 919) 782- 3211, ext. 238. ( Limit of 20 people per session) Questions/ Directions? Contact: Linda Blain at 919/ 782- 3211 ext. 238 or via e- mail at LINDAB@ ncbon. com NAME:____________________________________________________________ TITLE:____________________________________________________________ ORGANIZATION NAME:_____________________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________ STATE: ______ ZIP: _________ WORK PH#: (____)_______________ HOME PH#: (____)________________ HOME ADDRESS:__________________________________________________ CITY: _______________________________ STATE: ________ ZIP: _________ E- MAIL ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ Make checks payable to North Carolina Board of Nursing or pay by credit card. Registration fee covers course materials. Credit Card Type: MasterCard Visa Expiration Date: Month: _____ Year: _____ Credit Card Number: __________________________________________________ Cardholder Name ( as it appears on Credit Card):___________________________________ Cardholder Billing Address: _____________________________________________ CITY: ________________________________ STATE: _________ ZIP: _________ Code:__________________ Total Amount: $____________________ Cardholder Signature: ________________________________________________ ( Credit card payment cannot be accepted via fax or phone.) Questions/ Directions? Contact: Pam at 919/ 782- 3211 ext. 279 or via e- mail at PAMELA@ ncbon. com ( Raleigh- NCBON- 10am- 3: 55pm) Role of the LPN in North Carolina ( Registration starts at 8: 00 a. m.; workshop ends at 12: 45 pm.) The purpose of this offering is to provide an overview regarding the role, the responsibilities, and the scope of practice of the licensed practical nurse. Content will focus on the role of the LPN in contrast to the RN, clarification of the LPN as a nurse-in- charge, and the role of the LPN in orienting the nurse aide. RNs who assign to LPNs, and LPNs in any type of practice set-ting, are encouraged to attend. Contact hours offered. ___ September 20, 2006 – Gastonia Gaston Memorial Hospital Magnolia Room 2525 Court Drive Questions/ Directions? Contact: Linda Blain at 919/ 782- 3211 ext. 238 or via e- mail at LINDAB@ ncbon. com ___ July 12, 2006 ___ September 13, 2006 ___ November 8, 2006 WORKSHOP NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! Go to www. ncbon. com Under Recent Announcements, locate “ Legal Scope of Practice Online Course” Click on the link and follow instructions Please Indicate the following: Title/ Date of Workshops Registration fee: $ 40 per session per person, for all work-shops except Continuing Competence Update; NONREFUND-ABLE ( unless the workshop is cancelled) PLEASE PRINT ALL INFORMATION AND MAIL TO: Administrative Secretary– Practice, NCBON, POB 2129, Raleigh, NC 27602. Please give a complete address, for you will be mailed a confirmation and/ or directions. |
OCLC number | 57243106 |