Discipline of Registered Nurses
The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) is mandated by the California Legislature through the Nursing Practice Act to investigate an allegation of criminal conduct and the possibility of abuse of alcohol, medication or drugs by any Registered Nurse. Some nurses will be offered the opportunity to participate in a Diversion Program, while others will be referred to the Enforcement Unit for investigation.
Following an investigation, the Board may decide to take no action, issue a private or public reproval, impose probation, suspension or revocation of a Registered Nurse's professional license.
In determining whether revocation, suspension or probation is to be imposed in a given case, the BRN considers the following factors:
- 1. Nature and severity of the act(s), offenses, or crime(s) under consideration.
- 2. Actual or potential harm to the public.
- 3. Actual or potential harm to any patient.
- 4. Prior disciplinary record.
- 5. Number and/or variety of current violations.
- 6. Mitigation evidence.
- 7. Rehabilitation evidence.
- 8. In case of a criminal conviction, compliance with conditions of sentence and/or probation.
- 9 Overall criminal record.
- 10. Time passed since the act(s) or offense(s) occurred.
- 11. If applicable, evidence of expungment proceedings pursuant to Penal Code Section 1203.4