NURSE Volume 11 Number 1 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA April 2014 R e g u l at i o n E d u c at i o n P r a c t i c e New Board Chair Cathy Borris-Hale, RN, MHA, BSN, and DOH Director Joxel Garcia, MD, MBA RN/APRN Renewals Have Begun (page 7) Government of the District of Columbia DC Action Coalition: Vincent C. Gray, Mayor Removing Practice Barriers (page 18) eO -mf afi il c ia : h p ll a . dPo u h@ v •i owne bo bdlc i. gcoat : fh t tt p h: e/ / dDo histrict . d c . g o v / b o n of C olumbia B oard of N ursin g1 SU_DNA_DC_Nursing_Ad_Feb14_Layout 1 2/20/14 3:08 PM Page 1 Taking Applications for Fall 2014 DOCTOR of NURSING PRACTICE Salisbury University New Track for 2014! PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS n Full-time study allows for quick career Post-Bachelor’s to D.N.P. advancement Family Nurse Practitioner n Courses delivered in distance-accessible format through interactive online learning One of only two such programs in n One-on-one faculty interactions with a small Maryland, this new option is designed cohort of students n Competitively priced tuition and fees for professionals who want to enhance n Post-Master’s to D.N.P. Track also available the quality of care in today’s complex health care environment. Information: 410-543-6420 or [email protected] www.salisbury.edu/nursing 2 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice Districtof c o n t e n t s Columbia NURSE Message from the Chair 4 Farewell to HRLA Senior Deputy Director Feseha Woldu 5 Edition 40 Welcome New HRLA Senior Deputy Director Rikin Mehta 5 Director, Department of Health Joxel Garcia, MD, MBA B oard M embers Cathy A. Borris-Hale, RN, MHA, BSN R e g ulation Chairperson Simmy Randhawa DNP, MBA, MS, RN, NE-BC Vice Chairperson Workforce Survey 6 Toni A. Eason, DNP, MS, APHN-BC, COHN-S Mary Ellen R. Husted, RN, BSN, OCN RN/APRN Renewals Have Begun 7 Rev. Mary E. Ivey, D-Min Vera Waltman Mayer, JD Ottamissiah Moore, BS, LPN, WCC, CLNI, GC, COIN CONSULT 8 CHPLN Chioma Nwachukwu, DNP, PHNCNS-BC, RN Continuing Education Non-Compliance Notice 9 Mami Preston, RN Winslow B. Woodland, RN, MSN IN THE KNOW 10 O ffice L ocation T ele p hone N umber Board Members Sworn In 12 DC Board of Nursing 899 North Capitol St. NE Washington, D.C. 20002 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (877) 672-2174 E ducation Phone: (202) 724-4900 Fax: (202) 724-8677 NCSBN News 14 Web site: http://doh.dc.gov/bon O ffice H ours Program Status: Annual NCLEX Performance 16 Monday thru Friday: 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Gallup Poll: Nurses Still #1 17 B oard S taff Karen Scipio-Skinner, MSN, RN Executive Director Concheeta Wright, BSN, RN Practice Nurse Consultant/Practice/COIN Bonita Jenkins, EdD, RN, CNE Nurse Specialist/Education DC Action Coalition: Removing Practice Barriers 18 Felicia Stokes, BSN, JD Nurse Consultant/Discipline Acetaminophen Alerts 24 Health Licensing Specialists: Kudos! 25 Donna Harris, BSHA Melondy Scott Gwyn Jackson Facilities Must Report Nurse Terminations 26 Nicole Scott Tanee Atwell, BS Nurse Imposters — Practicing Without a License 28 Angela Braxton Nancy Kofie Board Disciplinary Actions 30 DC Nurse: REP Managing Editor Address Change? Name Change? Question? In order to continue uninterrupted delivery of this magazine, please notify the Board of any change to your name or address. Thank you. DC BON Mission Statement: “The mission of the Board of Nursing is to safeguard the public’s health and well being by assuring safe quality care in the District of Columbia. This is achieved through the regulation of nursing practice and education programs; and by the licensure, registration and continuing education of nursing personnel.” pcipublishing.com Circulation includes over 22,000 licensed nurses, nursing home Created by Publishing Concepts, Inc. David Brown, President • [email protected] administrators, and nurse staffing agencies in the District of Columbia. For Advertising info contact Tom Kennedy • 1-800-561-4686 Feel free to e-mail your “Letters to the Editor” for our quarterly column: IN THE KNOW: Your opinion on [email protected] the issues, and our answers to your questions. E-mail your letters to [email protected]. (Lengthy letters ThinkNurse.com may be excerpted.) e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 3 Message from the Chair As we begin a new year, I welcome both the opportunity and the challenge of serving as the Chair of the Board of Nursing. As a nurse with over 30 years invested in this profession, I have a deep commitment to the continuous improvement of nursing practice in this evolving healthcare environment. Because of that commitment it is my mission and I feel it should be that of the Board as well, to support nursing students in their development from student nurse to seasoned practitioner. That development begins in the classroom and continues throughout their nursing career. Nursing plays an integral role in the healthcare of our community and this nation as a whole; it is vital that nursing education be of the highest quality. It is the Board’s Cathy Borris-Hale, RN, MHA, responsibility to ensure that the educational standards set in forth in the District BSN of Columbia are met to guarantee that the minimal requirements for entry into the nursing profession are being achieved. Undergraduate education must be aimed at producing nurses who are fully capable of integrating critical thinking and evidence based practice into the care they render; that is in the best interest of public health and our profession. Since I began my tenure, we have implemented procedural changes that allow us to address the mandated board functions while giving more time to anticipate and address the changing needs of nursing practice in this dynamic healthcare environment. For example; with the onset of tele-health, we have been asked the question; where does nursing take place? Should a nurse located and licensed in Maine, be allowed to provide patient care via Skype to individuals residing in the District without a D.C. license? These are serious questions and the Board must be prepared to address them in a way that allows for high level professionalism and stellar nursing care to the public. The members of the Board of Nursing are dedicated to ensuring that our residents receive quality health care, and that the professionals licensed in the District have high ethical standards. At this time, I would like to acknowledge the vast knowledge and dedication of our Board members, and of our new Vice Chairperson Simmy Randhawa. Thank you all for your invaluable service to our city. We have a tremendous responsibility as well as a unique opportunity to educate, communicate and share our knowledge. Working together, we can enhance the value of our profession. I look forward to a wonderful year ahead. Board Chair Cathy Borris-Hale, RN, MHA, BSN, and Vice Chair Simmy Randhawa, DNP, MBA, MS, RN, NE-BC. Cathy Borris-Hale, RN, MHA, BSN Chairperson, DC Board of Nursing Thanks and Congratulations to our Outgoing Chair IT’S A BOY!! The Board of Nursing extends its best wishes to our outgoing Chairperson Mary Ellen Husted, RN, BSN, OCN. Thank you for your dedicated service as Chairperson. Mary Ellen will now resume her duties as a regular Board member. Congratulations to Mary Ellen and her husband on the arrival Mary Ellen R. Husted, RN, of son Matthew Grant Husted. BSN, OCN 4 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice Regulation Farewell to HRLA Senior Deputy Director Feseha Woldu, PhD Feseha Woldu, PhD, who served as the Dr. Feseha Woldu and Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander pose for a photo with current and former Directors of the Department of Health (left to right) Dr. Gregg Pane, Dr. Joxel Garcia, Dr. Pierre N.D. Vigilance, Senior Deputy Director of DOH’s Health and Dr. Ivan Walks. Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA) for 14 years, left HRLA in October in regard to licensing, inspection and University will benefit from Dr. Woldu’s 2013 to accept the position of Associate Vice regulatory administration, and to utilize knowledge and his passion for excellence. President for Clinical Affairs and Quality technology to improve the efficiency of We are pleased that Dr. Woldu will still be in at Howard University. In this capacity, Dr. HPLA operations. During his tenure, Dr. the District of Columbia so that the health Woldu will work with Howard University Woldu was able to expedite online licensure care community can continue to benefit Hospital executives, the doctors of the renewal and instituted a system to make from his influence. No doubt, in his new Faculty Practice Plan and the deans of the compliance information available online. position, he will have a significant impact, Health Sciences colleges to ensure excellence Dr. Woldu’s leadership will be missed promoting excellence and ensuring quality in all health sciences clinical programs. at HRLA. The Board of Nursing will care in the District. At HRLA, Dr. Woldu’s mission was to always value the innovative thinking and We wish him all the best in his new ensure accountability and fiscal integrity support he provided to the Board. Howard position. n Welcome New HRLA Senior Deputy Director Dr. Mehta served as an FDA technical advisor to INTERPOL and member of their Rikin S. Mehta, PharmD, JD, LLM coordination committee for a week-long Dr. Rikin Mehta has been His responsibilities included operation called Operation Pangea IV. This appointed Senior Deputy Director ensuring industry compliance operation involved the coordination of 81 for the Health Regulation and for the drug approval process, countries and resulted in multiple arrests Licensing Administration for the better patient access to safe and and the seizure of 2.4 million potentially DC Department of Health, effective effective medicine. Following harmful medicines worth USD 6.3 million January 13, 2014. Dr. Mehta (or this work, Dr. Mehta served worldwide. “Rik”) comes from the U.S. Food Rikin S. Mehta, on detail as Senior Advisor for Prior to FDA, Dr. Mehta worked as PharmD, JD, LLM and Drug Administration (FDA) Globalization. In that role, he a drug store pharmacist as well as an where he served as the Deputy advised a working group that emergency room/critical care pharmacist at Director for the Division of Medical Policy published the Commissioner’s Special a university hospital. Dr. Mehta received his Programs at the Center for Drug Evaluation Report on the Pathway to Global Product B.S. in pharmacy from Rutgers University and Research (CDER), Office of Medical Safety and Quality. Dr. Mehta was also and Pharm.D. from the University of Policy. As the Deputy, Dr. Mehta created involved in creating a new sub-office within Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He later and led the Nonprescription drug Safe Use CDER’s Office of Compliance focused on received a J.D. from Rutgers University Regulatory Expansion (NSURE) Initiative drug security, integrity and recalls to work School of Law and a Master of Laws in exploring regulatory methods to alleviate on domestic and international policies Global Health Law and International the undertreatment of common conditions related to supply chain security and anti- Institutions through a joint program with or diseases through the use of innovative counterfeiting. In this position, he enhanced Georgetown University Law Center and technologies or other conditions of safe use the programmatic mission for global supply the Graduate Institute for International to expand access to medications. chain security by working on a 6-month tour and Development Studies in Geneva, Dr. Mehta started his FDA career of duty at the World Health Organization Switzerland. Dr. Mehta is originally from in CDER, Office of Compliance (OC), in Geneva, Switzerland to further elements Houston, Texas and lives in the District of where he worked primarily on the of a global surveillance system for detecting Columbia with his wife Reema, son Shailen Agency’s unapproved drugs initiative. and reporting counterfeit drugs. Notably, and his puppy Dexter. n e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 5  Re g u l a t i o n Workforce Survey Please be reminded that during the renewal process licensees must complete the Board of Nursing’s Workforce Survey questionnaire, so that accurate data may be collected which could ultimately impact both public policy and future nursing workforce opportunities in the District. What did we learn from the 2012 survey? Workforce data was collected from RNs and APRNs during the 2012 renewal period. Over 15,000 renewed their license in 2012. We wanted to share a few of our findings based on a comparing our statistics with HRSA’s workforce survey: Racial diversity Nationally, ethnic/racial minorities make up 37% of the general population, but in nursing … Nationally: 19% of nurses are ethnic/racial minorities. DC: 55% of nurses are ethnic/racial minorities (Black/African American 36%, and Asian 11%). Education Nationally: 42% have a baccalaureate; BSN 34%; 8% BS in other field. DC: 51% have a baccalaureate; 45% BSN and 6% BS in other field. Nationally: 3% have Master’s degree. DC: 16% have Master’s degree. Primary employment Hospitals: Nationally 56%, in DC 67%. Ambulatory: Nationally 9%, in DC 7%. LTC Setting: Nationally 6%, in DC 4%. Home Care: Nationally 6%, in DC 3%. During the 2014 survey, will we see a change in the primary employment setting from acute care to long term care; has there been a shift in the educational level? How racially diverse is our nursing workforce? We need you to complete 2014 workforce survey…… n BOARD OF NURSING MEETINGS Members of the public are invited to attend... Date: *First Wednesday of every other month. Time: To confirm meeting date and time, call 9:30 a.m - 11:30 a.m. (202) 724-8800. Location: March 5, 2014 May 7, 2014 2nd Floor Board Room July 3, 2014 899 North Capitol St NE Sept 4, 2014 Washington, D.C. 20002 Nov 6, 2014 Transportation: Closest Metro station is Union Station. *Please note new schedule 6 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  RN/APRN Renewals Have Begun; Please Note: CE Audit Licenses Expire June 30, 2014 will BEgin during renewal period. Here Are Some Renewal Tips RN/APRN renewals began April 1, 2014. Licenses will expire June 30, 2014. All RN licenses expire June 30 of even numbered years. The renewal fee will not be prorated. You will be mailed a renewal notice (to your address of record) approximately three (3) months before the expiration of your license/certification. Upon completion of the renewal application and payment of the renewal fee, your license will be renewed for a two-year period. Here are a few tips to DON’T LET YOUR LICENSE (1) Contact Hour Option: Provide avoid delay, now and in the EXPIRE: Instead of letting your an original verification form signed future: license expire, consider selecting or stamped by the program sponsor. “Paid Inactive” status. (2) Academic Option: Provide Renew online: RNs/APRNs can Paid Inactive status allows your proof of having completed an renew their licenses by accessing the licensure to remain dormant until undergraduate or graduate course, HPLA website at: you choose to reactive the status to in nursing or relevant to the practice https://app.hpla.doh.dc.gov/ “Active Status.” While on Inactive of nursing. mylicense/ status, you will not be subject to the (3) Teaching Option: Provide renewal fee and you can continue evidence of having developed or Web Browser: To renew online, to use your RN title but you cannot taught a continuing education you must use either Internet Explorer practice, attempt to practice, or offer course or educational offering or Firefox web browser. to practice as an RN. approved by the board or a board approved accrediting body. Contact Information: It is Why Paid inactive? If you Applicants may receive four (4) important to keep your contact don’t select this Inactive status, your contact hours for each approved information up-to-date. Please license will expire. To reactive an course contact hour. (This is not update your contact information by expired license, you will need to apply an option for nurses required forwarding your updated mailing for reinstatement of your license. If to develop and teach in-service address and email address to Angela. on Paid Inactive status, you pay the education courses or educational [email protected]. reactivation fee, currently $34.00. offering as a condition of Licensees on Paid Inactive status must employment) continue to meet the continuing (4) Author or Editor Option: APRN Renewal Tip education requirements; CE must be Provide evidence of authorship Controlled Substance Registration: presented to the Board when applying or editor of a book, chapter or APRNs, if you also possess a controlled for licensure reactivation. published peer reviewed periodical, substance registration, your registration if the periodical has been published is due for renewal. The fee for CONTINUING EDUCATION or accepted for publication renewal for your controlled substance REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL during the period for which credit registration is $130.00. You may renew LPNs: 18 Contact Hours is claimed. (Meets continuing online after you renew your primary RNs: 24 Contact Hours education requirement.) requisite RN license. Note that if your APRNs: 24 Contact Hours (15 RN license is placed on hold for any pharmacology*) PLEASE NOTE: All continuing reason, you will be unable to renew *For clarification of this education must be relevant to your your controlled substance registration pharmacology requirement, see the current field of practice. n until the hold is released. yellow box in the IN THE KNOW section on page 11. e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 7  COIN CONSULT A Resource for Impaired Nurses DUIs—Why Do They Matter? By Kate Malliarakis, PhD, ANP-BC, MAC The new requirement for Health Professionals to have background checks has revealed many issues for applicants. One is the issue of DUIs. Applicants now have their driving records “The changes in the brain that identified for DUIs and DWIs. Persons identified as having a allowed the person to decide to DUI or DWI within the last 5 (five) years are referred to the drive after drinking or using drugs Committee on Impaired Nurses (COIN) for evaluation. The COIN is a committee of the Board of Nursing (BON) and thus endangering themselves that serves three functions: Identifying substance abuse or or others—those changes are mental health issues that interfere with a nurse’s ability to safely still present in the person’s brain practice nursing; referring to treatment providers who can assist the nurse towards recovery; and, monitoring for those whose when he/she sobers up and goes substance abuse or mental health issues have been documented back to work.” and referred to the Board of Nursing. The BON asked COIN to review the DUI/DWI charges and provide guidance to the Board as to whether the nurse is unsafe to practice nursing. that a person’s behavior changes as a result of his/her relationship with drugs or alcohol. A person’s judgment changes as well and What is the difference between a DUI and a DWI? that is evidenced by driving after drinking or using drugs. The DUI designates driving under the influence, while DWI refers to changes in the brain that allowed the person to decide to drive driving while intoxicated. The difference between them differs by after drinking or using drugs and thus endangering themselves or State, but usually refers to the amount of alcohol in your blood at others—those changes are still present in the person’s brain when the time of arrest. Driving under the influence (DUI) is considered he/she sobers up and goes back to work. A person’s judgment may a lesser charge in some States. In D.C., driving while intoxicated not be accurate, and his/her thinking may be affected as well. In (DWI) means that the driver’s blood alcohol concentration addiction, there are many behaviors that demonstrate the disease exceeded the legal limit. Driving under the influence (DUI) and may not be apparent to the person. That is what COIN tries requires the driver’s operation to be appreciably impaired as a to do—assess the behavior patterns of a person who has received a result of intoxication. Additionally, the term DUI is used if a person DUI or DWI to see if he or she is in an active disease state. It’s that is under the influence of drugs. simple! Please know that referral to COIN is not a disciplinary Why does it matter to the Board of Nursing? action. The goal of COIN is to protect the patient by ensuring safe In 2007, a seminal research article by White and Gasperin nursing practice. examined the research on the highest risk DUI offenders. They COIN hopes that you will contact us through Concheeta cited research that noted between 40-70% of first-time DUI Wright, our Case Manager, if you have any questions. Concheeta offenders have prior alcohol- or drug-related criminal offenses. can be contacted at [email protected] or 202-724-8870. Furthermore, statistically, a person is not stopped the first time he or she drives drunk or under the influence of drugs. Finally, more than 80% of DUI offenders have a significant problem in their References relationship with alcohol and/or other drugs. Another follow-up study sought to isolate the characteristics Cavaiola, A., Strohmetz, D., Abreo, S. (2007). Characteristics of repeat DWI offenders followed over a 12 year period (Cavaiola, of DUI recidivists: a 12-year follow-up study of first time DUI Strohmetz, & Abreo, 2007). They analyzed 77 first-time DWI offenders. Addictive Behaviors 32(4):855-61. offenders in which 38% were convicted of a subsequent DWI. They White, W. & Gasperin, D. (2007) The “hard core drinking found there are only slight differences between first and repeat driver”: Identification, treatment and community management. DWI offenders. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 25(3), 113-132. n Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease of the brain. No one really knows exactly when addiction begins. What we do know is 8 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  Continuing Education Non-Compliance Notice The Board of Nursing’s Continuing Education (CE) Audit for Registered Nurses, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Licensed LPNs Practical Nurses began in 2013, following the specific renewal Please note that if your name appears on the list of LPNs below: periods. • Provide documentation of meeting Continuing Education At the time that this publication went to press, we had not requirements during the timeframe of July 1, 2011 to June 30, received a response to the Board’s request from the persons listed 2013. below. Failure to comply with the Board of Nursing’s regulatory requirement may result in a fine up to $500.00 and/or a disciplinary WHAT TO SUBMIT action against your license to practice in the District of Columbia. I have completed CE within Timeframe: If you completed the CE during July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013, please submit your documentation to the Board. You will not be fined. RNs/APRNs I have not completed my CE within Timeframe: If you did Please note that if your name appears on the list of RNs below, not complete the CE during July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013, you YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RENEW YOUR LICENSE until you: will be fined and you will have to submit documentation in • Provide evidence of completion of the continuing education compliance with the CE requirements. (See page 7 for CE options.) during the timeframe July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2012; OR • Complete the Negotiated Settlement Agreement that has been If you have any questions or need additional information, please sent to the address on file. feel free to send an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or call Gwyn Jackson at (202) 442-4764. DAMLABEU, DANIELLE L LPN1006268 RN list as of 2-03-14 DEEN-DURING, OLAIMATU W LPN1005558 ALLMAN, SONIA E RN60915 DESMUKES, BRIDGET BECHAM LPN1004132 DAUSSES, DEBORAH K RN63092 EKATAH, MARY O. LPN1003255 EMAMI, SARAH ELIZABETH RN1015771 ELEGALAM, AKUNNA U LPN1002136 GONSALVES, JAMILA A. RN65783 FREEMAN, BARBARA LPN1004112 JONES-REYNOLDS, CRYSTAL D RN1016377 GIBATEH, TENNEH LPN1002266 JUA, PETRA B. RN1005646 GIWA, TOYIN B. LPN1002415 KENNEDY-WATKINS, ANGELA R. RN965540 GOINS, DORIS V LPN5524 LOTT, TIMOTHY C. RN1005362 JEZA, CAROLINE N. LPN1003747 LOVELACE, PAULINE W RN32938 JOHNSON, LOUISE S. LPN1814 MAYS, BLONDINIA J F RN68240 Myer, Sata LPN1006058 MBUH, SAMUEL N RN53834 NANA, ALICE F LPN1004209 MOYO, VUYELWA E. RN1004825 NDAKWAH, DELPHINE A LPN1005491 NWAOGWUGWU, NDIDI Y. RN1004266 NEWMAN-OSIGWE, SHIRLEY LPN7157 NYAMBI, CLAUDETTE RN1014976 NYARKO, ENOCK NK LPN1003848 OHIRI, IMELDA C. RN964571 OMOLOLA, KOLAWOLE G. LPN1003462 PETRUS, RACHEL RN1017651 OROCK, MAGGIE E LPN1006179 PHILIP, LYNETTE C RN43242 OSEI-ACHEAMPONG, KOJO S LPN7173 PICKETT, MELISSA L. RN1017832 PEARCE, KUMBA LPN1005660 RAHIM, MARIAMA RN1002350 SADALAH, MUSTAFA LUBEGA LPN1006027 SIMPSON, PHILOMINA RN962512 SESAY, SONNA HAJA LPN1003652 WASHINGTON, LECHELE W RN1008946 SMITH, GENEVA M. LPN1002979 WILLOUGHBY, SUSAN D RN55483 STOKES, CAROLYN A LPN5266 UDECHUKWU, JOHN T. LPN7479 LPN list as of 2-03-14 WALLACE, DEBORAH LPN7210 AFOLABI, FAITH O. LPN1002912 WAYNS, TOLULOPE O LPN1005908 AKINDOLIE, ANDREW O LPN1004938 WHITTINGHAM, SHELLY-ANN O LPN1005802 ANYANWU, NELSON C LPN1005399 WILLIAMS, DENISE LPN6693 BABATUNDE, BEATRICE LPN7250 WILLIAMS, LENISE ELSIE LPN6055 BEALE, FRANCES Y. LPN5899 WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE M. LPN961244 BENJAMIN, MINNETTE V LPN4963 BUCHANAN, ANGELA T. LPN1003514 See page 7 to see all the options for meeting the Continuing CHE, PHILOMENA S LPN1004857 Education requirements. n COLE, ROSEMOND E LPN8284 e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 9  Re g u l a t i o n IN THE KNOW The Board of Nursing has established the “In The Know” column in response to the many phone calls and e-mails the Board receives regarding licensure and other issues. The Board often receives multiple inquiries regarding the same topic. Please share this column with your colleagues and urge them to read it. The more nurses are aware of the answers to these frequently asked questions, the less our resources will have to be used to address duplicate questions. Cheating on an Exam Board of Nursing Cheating Q : A candidate was suspected of cheating during an exam. Testing was discontinued and the testing service If a person designated to proctor an examination suspects that an applicant is cheating or has cheated on the Policy Board of Nursing examination applicants caught cheating on PSI was informed about the incident. examination, the person shall do the examinations or submitting fraudulent What is the Board’s policy regarding following: information will be asked to withdraw cheating? We follow Rule 17-3303 (a) If necessary, seat the applicant their application and will not be able “Cheating on an Examination” that is in a segregated location for the to apply to sit for examination in DC found in the DC Regs. (link: http:// remainder of the examination; for a period of two years. www.dcregs.dc.gov/Gateway/RuleHome. (b) Keep a record of the applicant’s aspx?RuleNumber=17-3303) seat location and identification number, and the names and HHAs & Meal Preparation Testing center cheating policy No person shall cheat or assist another in cheating on an examination identification numbers of the applicants on either side of the applicant; Q : Many of the Home Health Aides working with seniors are not competent in preparing basic meals required by an Act listed in § 3300.1 or (c) Confiscate any materials or for their assigned senior clients, even rules promulgated pursuant thereto. devices that are suspected of though the care plan requires it and being used by the applicant to HH Agencies are getting paid for these As used in this section, “cheating” cheat on the examination; services. When this occurs, clients are includes, but is not limited to, the (d) Permit the applicant to complete mostly forced to request our Agency to following: the examination; and provide home delivered meals so they (a) Communication relating to (e) Notify the testing service, the can eat a basic, but nutritious meal once the examination between board, and the Director that the a day. 17 DCMR, 9315.1(h) states that applicants inside or outside of applicant is suspected of cheating HHA shall assist with “preparation of an examination room or copying and provide a board with a copy meals in accordance with dietary (USA) another applicant’s answers while of the examination booklet guidelines.” Unfortunately, a significant an examination is in progress; and any evidence obtained number of our clients’ HHAs cannot or (b) Communication relating to an by the person proctoring the do not prepare meals in an acceptable examination with others outside examination. manner for their clients. This may be due of an examination room while the to a lack of training and/or knowledge of examination is in progress; If a board has cause to believe the American style of cooking. (c) Substitution by an applicant that an applicant has cheated or has As a result, this issue places a client of another person to sit in failed to comply with an instruction with existing physical vulnerabilities an examination room in the of a proctor, it may propose to deny a and health issues at a greater risk health applicant’s place; and license, impose a civil fine, or take other wise. Also there are many clients who (d) Use of crib sheets, text books, or actions. are not eligible for HHA services via other materials not authorized Medicaid who could benefit from home by a board inside or outside delivered meals, which are limited supply an examination room while an throughout the city. examination is in progress. 10 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  A : Thank you for contacting the Board of Nursing. We would need to know the name of the HHAs Out-of-State Revocation Q : If an RN license is revoked in another state, does that impact interpreted to mean that the supervision of “direct nursing functions” is the role of the RN. This should not be interpreted to or preferably the agency. We have asked their license in DC? mean that RNs cannot be supervised by agencies to make sure that the HHA is competent to perform the tasks specified in the plan of care. If we know the name of A : It may. When the Board becomes aware of the revocation, it will review the reason for the revocation. The others in their performance of duties that are non-clinical. the agency, and/or the HHA, they will be Board may issue a reciprocal order (the RN-to-APRN contacted by Board staff. HHA vs. PCA nurse’s license will be revoked in DC, also); the Board may issue a lesser discipline or, in some cases, no discipline. (Some boards Q : We have a question from a DC licensee who upgraded from registered nurse to nurse practitioner Q : What is the difference between a Home Health Aide (governed by one set of regulations) and a Personal revoke licenses for CE non-compliance. The DC Board would not reciprocate a revoked license for that reason.) If the nurse during the current license period. Questions: (a) When someone goes from RN to NP, do they still have the Care Aide (PCA) (governed by similar but is currently licensed in DC, the nurse does standard renewal requirements, or are they separate regulations)? It looks like HHAs have the right to a hearing. considered to be in the first renewal since have to take and pass a different course and it is a new profession? (b) Would they still exam. Is this right? The PCA regulations Partial Renewal Cycle keep the RN license or does it just become don’t mention Board of Nursing oversight, whereas HHA regulations do. Are PCAs not subject to Board of Nursing rules, only Q : If a nurse applies for a DC license in early January 2014, will that license be good until 2016 or will an NP license and the RN license is understood but not considered a separate license? HHAs (regulations below)? What does this mean for Medicaid State Plan PCA recipients vs. EPD Waiver participants? It she have to reapply again when the 2014 licenses expire? That is a lot of money for a few months to have to reapply. A : (a) RNs adding on the APRN authority are NOT considered to be renewing for the first time. (b) Persons seems like the pool of aides are the same, and so a “PCA” might be serving a person who is just getting Medicaid State Plan PCA A : All RN licenses expire June 30th of even-numbered years. applying as APRNs will be issued an APRN license. services OR that same PCA might serve an Non-Nurse Manager EPD Waiver beneficiary, ditto for HHA. Clarification would help! Q : Is there a part of the Nurse Practice Act that says “RNs must Pharmacology for APRNs Q : Our organization provides A : While their roles may vary in the District, PCAs and HHAs are used interchangeably. Therefore, in be evaluated by RNs?” We have a couple of areas where there is no RN in the clinical area and the manager is a non- continuing education for nurses. I am trying to determine exactly what the DC Board means regulating them the Board did not make nurse. by “pharmacology” content for the a distinction between the two. The HHA regulations definition is as follows: “Home health aide (HHA) A : There will always be settings in which nurses are supervised by persons who are not licensed as RNs. But advanced practice RNs. When putting courses into CE Broker, I have to determine if the hours are good for [is] an individual, including in the clinical setting, the scope of nursing pharmacology or not. a personal care aide (PCA), who as a result of training and demonstrated competencies, works as defined by the Health Occupations Revision Act (Section 3-131.02, 17, (J)) specifies: A : Pharmacology content refers to pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic information under the supervision of a nurse or “(17) “Practice of registered nursing” related to drugs. Because we have a other health professional licensed “(J) Administering nursing pharmacology continuing education in the District of Columbia and services within a health care facility, requirement for APRNs, they must provides nursing or nursing related including the delegation and supervision of have the specific hours listed on their services to clients in a home setting direct nursing functions and the evaluation of CE certificates. or in assistive living facilities.” the performance of these functions; This section of the law has been Continued on page 12 e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 11  Re g u l a t i o n Continued from page 25 Q : Do you interpret this regulation to be annual if the evaluations are annual? for review to the peer and to meet with the peer periodically for review of your work; I do not tell them they should APRN in a Health Care Facility Peer Review A : Yes. The premise of this resolution is that APRN practice should be evaluated by an APRN. have the peer come observe them. A : Sounds good. Your approach is consistent with the intent of this Q : Is it still correct that APRNs peer review as part of the evaluation process to maintain licensing Q : Is the “specialty area” referring to specialty regulation. Please note that we will soon revise the APRN regulations. in DC? If so, can you send me the certification (i.e. pediatrics), not the Continuing Education regulation because I could not find it. A : See relevant section below. This section was included in pediatric specialty they are working within (ex, neurology)? Several APRNs are working in a pediatric specialty Q : Regarding CE Audit—“Send an original verification form.” Is this new? I do not believe I sent the regulations to address facilities that where they are the only APRN. originals at the last renewal. If we send require evaluation. 5913 PRACTICE OF A CERTIFIED A : This regulatory requirement is referring to the certification the originals, how do we use them for other state licensing or if we are audited? REGISTERED NURSE- PRACTITIONER IN HEALTH specialty. A : We started asking for originals because we were finding CARE FACILITIES REQUIRING A FORMAL EVALUATION Q : I have my recommendations on how to get an adequate Peer Review when the only observers of your that some were photocopying their colleagues’ CE certificates. If an original is not submitted and we have questions 5913.1 An APRN shall be evaluated practice are physicians, but are there regarding its validity, we will request an by another APRN licensed to Board guidelines/recommendations for original. If you are audited by us and practice in the same specialty how to have a peer review you when need to send an original, keep a copy for area. you do not actually practice in the same your records. n area? My suggestion is to send charts Board Members Sworn In New Board member Mami Preston, RN (center), with Darryl Gorman, Esq., Returning Board members Chioma Nwachukwu, DNP, PHNCNS-BC, RN, and Toni Director of the Office of Boards and Commissions, and Cathy Borris-Hale, RN, A. Easton, DNP, MS, APHN-BC, COHN-S; each sworn in to serve a second term. MHA, BSN, Board Chairperson. 12 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  Marshall University MSN Online Choose your path to success! The programs are designed with the working nurse in mind. Have you thought about pursuing a career in Nursing Education? As an RN, the Marshall MSN degree program is for you! • Prepare and work in a collegial environment where there are many job opportunities now and in the future. • Scholarship opportunities are available. Or maybe you would like to pursue a career in Administration? Enroll in our MSN Administration Program. • Prepare to function in a variety of administrative or managerial positions in a variety of healthcare settings. • Develop critical leadership skills which will allow you to make an impact in today’s complex healthcare environment. RN to BSN Online Education in a supportive setting. Marshall’s RN to BSN Program combines quality education with flexibility and personal attention to student needs. • An active RN License is required. New graduates have one semester to complete this requirement. • Total of 120 credit hours required for graduation. • Opportunities for further graduate level education. • Online classes Marshall University School of Nursing • Affordable tuition One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755 • Highly qualified faculty For more information contact: • Full or part time study available [email protected] (for MSN program) • Accredited by ACEN or [email protected] (for RN to BSN program) or call 304-696-5272. e-mail: [email protected] • www.marshall.edu/cohp web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 13  Education American College of Physicians (ACP) Advocates Shift From Individual Clinician NCSBN News passing standard. NCSBN also considered the results of national surveys of nursing Model to Team-Based Care In a recently released position paper NCSBN Raises the Passing professionals, including nursing educators, published in the Annals of Internal Standard for the NCLEX-PN directors of nursing in acute care settings Medicine, the ACP suggests that patients Examination and administrators of long-term care should have immediate access to a The National Council of State Boards facilities. physician overseeing their care, but inter- of Nursing (NCSBN) Board of Directors In accordance with a motion adopted professional teams should be organized (BOD) voted on Dec. 10, 2013, to raise by the 1989 NCSBN Delegate Assembly, and managed in a way that best meets the passing standard for the NCLEX- the NCSBN BOD evaluates the passing patient needs. For example, the position PN Examination (the National Council standard for the NCLEX-PN Examination paper states that, while advanced practice Licensure Examination for Practical every three years to protect the public by registered nurses (APRNs) “cannot Nurses). The passing standard will be ensuring minimal competence for entry- substitute” for doctors, patients should be revised from the current logits* -0.27 to level PNs. The 2014 NCLEX-PN Test Plan matched with the most qualified member -0.21 logits beginning April 1, 2014, with is available free of charge from the NCSBN of the care team available at the time.   the implementation of the 2014 NCLEX- website. Inquiries about the NCLEX The paper states that APRNs can provide PN Test Plan. The new passing standard examination may be directed to the NCLEX complementary and unique approaches, will remain in effect through March 31, information line at 1.866.293.9600 or as well as additional skills in the service 2017. [email protected]. of patients and families. However, the After consideration of all available *A logit is defined as a unit of position paper is unclear as to whether information, the NCSBN BOD determined measurement to report relative differences physicians must lead the care team or that safe and effective entry-level licensed between candidate ability estimates and whether other professionals may lead. practical/vocational nurse (PN/VN) practice item difficulties. requires a greater level of knowledge, skills, and abilities than was required in The Role of the School Nurse Number of U.S. Hospital Deaths 2010 when NCSBN implemented the Evolving from Medical Mistakes Causes current standard. The passing standard was A recent article in USA Today highlights Alarm increased in response to changes in U.S. a number of ways in which the role of New research from the Journal of Patient health care delivery and nursing practice school nurses has changed in recent years. Safety estimates the number of preventable that have resulted in the greater acuity of Today’s school nurses are treating student medical mistakes contributing to patient clients seen by entry-level PN/VNs. populations that have increasing medical death is somewhere between 210,000 to In their evaluation the BOD used needs. At the same time, school systems 440,000 each year. These estimates are multiple sources of information to guide continue to face budget cuts, requiring significant because they are remarkably its evaluation and discussion regarding the school nurses to rotate between multiple higher than previous estimates. In 1999, the change in passing standard. These sources school assignments during a workweek. Institute of Medicine published the famous include the results from the criterion- According to the National Association “To Err Is Human” report, which estimated referenced standard-setting workshop, a of School Nurses, one-third of all school that 98,000 people a year die because of historical record of the NCLEX-PN passing districts reduced nursing staff over the past mistakes in hospitals. In 2010, the Office standard and candidate performance, year because of the recession; a quarter of of Inspector General for the Department of the educational readiness of high school all school districts do not have a school Health and Human Services said that, in a graduates who expressed an interest in nurse at all. The article indicates that many given year, poor hospital care contributed nursing, and the results from annual school nurses have an increased need to to the death of 180,000 Medicare patients. surveys of nursing educators and employers train and maintain a competent team of While no one has definitively established conducted between 2011 and 2013. As unlicensed personnel to prevent, recognize the true number of medical errors part of this process, NCSBN convened and respond to emergencies. Finally, the attributable to patient death, Dr. David an expert panel of 13 subject matter article notes that recent policy shifts arising Mayer, vice president of quality and safety at experts to perform a criterion-referenced out of the Affordable Care Act will lead to Maryland-based MedStar Health, said that standard-setting procedure. The panel’s greater opportunities for school nurses to all the estimates, even at the low end, expose findings supported the creation of a higher focus on prevention and wellness. a crisis. n 14 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  Professional Nursing Schools Patricia McMullen, PhD, JD, CNS, CRNP, Tammi L. Damas, PhD, MBA, WHNP-BC, Teresa L. Panniers, PhD, RN Susie Cato MSN, MASS, RN, Director of Dean, Catholic University School of Nursing RN, Associate Dean/Interim Chairperson Associate Dean for Nursing and Health Associate Degree Nursing Program, University of 620 Michigan Avenue, N.E. Graduate Program Professions District of Columbia Community College Washington, DC 20017 Howard University College of Nursing Chief Nursing Officer Associate Degree Nursing Program [email protected] 2400 6th St. N.W. Trinity Washington University 801 North Capitol Street NE Room 812 PH: (202) 319-5400 Washington, DC 20059 125 Michigan Avenue, N.E. Washington, DC 20002 FAX: (202) 319-6485 [email protected] Washington, D.C. 20017 [email protected] RN Program. APRN Program. PH: (202) 806-7456 [email protected] PH: (202) 274-5914 • FAX: (202) 274-5952 CONDITIONAL FAX: (202) 806-5958 PH: (202) 884-9689 RN Program Only RN Program. APRN Program. FAX: (202) 884-9308 CONDITIONAL Jeanne Matthews, PhD, RN, Chair, Department CONDITIONAL RN Program Only of Nursing, Associate Professor & Program CONDITIONAL Mary Jean Schumann, DNP, MBA, RN, Director for Nursing Education, Georgetown Sandra Marshall, MSN, RN, CPNP, FAAN, Interim Senior Associate Dean University School of Nursing & Health Studies Interim Program Director of Nursing for Academic Affairs, The George Washington 3700 Reservoir Road N.W. Radians College University Graduate School of Nursing Washington, DC 20007 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW; Suite 200 900 23rd St. NW, Suite 6167 B [email protected] Washington, DC 20005 Washington, DC 20037 PH: (202) 687-0754 [email protected] [email protected] RN Program. APRN Program. PH: (202) 291-9020 PH: (202) 994-5192 • FAX: (202) 994-2777 FULL APPROVAL FAX: (202) 829-9192 APRN Program Only RN Program Only FULL APPROVAL FULL APPROVAL PRACTICAL NURSE PROGRAMS Michael Adedokun, PhD, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing, Sandra Marshall, MSN, RN Susie Cato, MSN, MASS, RN Interim Director Comprehensive Health Academy Interim Program Director of Nursing, Radians College University of the District of Columbia Community College School of Practice Nursing 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW; Suite 200 Nursing Certificate Programs 1106 Bladensburg Road, N.E. Washington, DC 20005 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002-2512 [email protected] Washington, DC. 20017 [email protected] PH: (202) 291-9020 [email protected] PH: (202) 388-5500 FAX: (202) 829-9192 PH: (202) 274-6950 FAX: (202) 388-9588 FULL APPROVAL FAX: (202) 274-6509 FULL APPROVAL CONDITIONAL NURSING ASSISTANT AND HOME HEALTH AIDE TRAINING PROGRAMS Bethel Training Institute (HHA) DC Institute of Allied Health (CNA/HHA) Home Care Partners, Inc (HHA) University of the District of Columbia- 824 Upshur Street, NW 2010 Rhode Island Avenue, NE 2nd Fl 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Community College (CNA/HHA) Washington, DC 20011 Washington, DC 20018 Suite C-1002 Bertie Backus Campus Certificate Programs email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Washington, DC 20005 5171 South Dakota Avenue, NE PH: (202) 723-0755 or 0304 PH: (202) 526-3535 email: [email protected] Washington, DC 20017 FAX: (202) 723-0367 FAX: (202) 526-3939 PH: (202) 638-2382 HHA email: [email protected] FULL APPROVAL FULL APPROVAL FULL APPROVAL CNA email: [email protected] PH: (202) 274-6950 CAPTEC Med Care (CNA/HHA) Friendship Public Charter School (CNA) Intellect Health Institute (HHA) FULL APPROVAL 3925 Georgia Avenue, NW Anacostia High School 4645 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE Washington, DC 20011 1601 16th St SE Washington, DC. 20019 VMT Education Center (CNA/HHA) CNA email: [email protected] Washington, DC 20020 email: [email protected]: 401 New York Ave, First Floor. NE HHA email: [email protected] email: [email protected] PH: (202) 621-2348 Washington, DC 20002 PH: (202) 291-7744 PH: (202) 698-2155 website: www.intellect-health.com email: [email protected] FAX: (202) 560-5119 FULL APPROVAL FULL APPROVAL PH: (202) 282-3143 FULL APPROVAL FAX: (202) 282-0012 Friendship Public Charter School (CNA) Opportunities Industrialization Center of FULL APPROVAL Carlos Rosario International Public Charter Collegiate Academy Washington DC (OIC DC) (HHA) School (CNA) 120 Q Street NE Suite 200 3016 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue S.E Washington Training Institute (HHA) 514 V Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Washington, DC 20032 6210 North Capitol Street NW Washington, DC 20002 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Washington, DC 20011 email: [email protected] PH: (202) 281-1753 PH: (202) 373-0330 2004 Rhode Island Avenue NE PH: (202) 797-4700 FULL APPROVAL (202) 373-0336 Washington, DC 20018 FAX: (202) 232-6442 FULL APPROVAL email: [email protected] FULL APPROVAL HealthWrite Training Center (CNA/HHA) PH: (240) 460-7060 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. Total Healthcare Innovations (CNA/HHA) FAX: (202) 319-0048 Washington, DC. 20020 1805 Montana Avenue NE FULL APPROVAL email: www.healthwrite.org Washington, DC 20002 PH: (202) 678-7279 email: [email protected] FAX: (202) 678-7279 PH: (202) 747-3453/ 202 747-3455 FULL APPROVAL FAX: (202) 747-3481 FULL APPROVAL e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 15  Education District of Columbia NCLEX Pass Rates October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2013 Registered nurse Programs % Pass Catholic University of America 67.95 Georgetown University 97.56 Howard University 69.44 Radians College 83.33 Trinity Washington University 44.19 University of District of Columbia Community College 37.14 National Average: Baccalaureate Programs 86.08 Associate Degree Programs 82.90 District of Columbia: Required Pass rate (95 % of National Average) Baccalaureate Programs 81.78 Associate Degree Programs 78.76 Practical nursE Programs % Pass Comprehensive Health Academy 85.71 Radians College 100 University of District of Columbia Community College 59.68 National Average: Practical Nurse Programs 85.23 District of Columbia: Required Pass rate (95% of National Average) Practical Nurse Programs 80.97 Nursing program approval/accreditation status is determined annually by the DC Board of Nursing and is based on the performance of the graduates of nursing programs on their first attempt taking the NCLEX as set forth in the regulatory requirements in “17 DCMR Chapter 56.” 5603.3 The Board may grant full accreditation to a program after the graduation of its first class if: (a) The percentage of the program’s first time NCLEX test takers passing the exam is not more than five percent (5%) below the national norm. The passing percentage shall be based on the cumulative results of the first two (2) quarters following graduation of the first class; and (b) The program hasdemonstrated continued ability to meet the standards and requirements of this chapter. 5603.7 In order to maintain full accreditation status, a program with full accreditation shall maintain: (a) All the standards and requirements of this chapter, as they may be amended or republished from time to time; (b) A minimum pass rate, for first time test takers on the NCLEX, or not more than five percent (5%) below the national norm, based on the cumulative results of the four (4) quarters in each year. 5605.1 The Board may place a nursing program that has failed to meet or maintain the requirements and standards of this chapter on conditional accreditation status 5605.2 Conditional accreditation status denotes that certain conditions must be met within a designated time period for the program to be granted or restored to full accreditation. n 16 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice DC National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Pass Rates 2013 Training Programs % Pass Status Captec Med Care 87.30 Approved Carlos Rosario Int’l 89.48 Approved DC Institute of Allied Health 74.34 Conditional Friendship Public Charter 43.34 Conditional Innovative Institute (formerly Total 79.47 Approved Healthcare Innovations) University of District of Columbia- 75.32 Approved Community College VMT Educational Center 74.65 Approved Required DC Pass Rate 75% DC Home Health Aide Exam Pass Rates 2013 Training Programs % Pass Status Bethel 21.46 Conditional CAPTEC 74.00 Conditional DC Institute of Allied Health 73.07 Conditional Healthwrite Training Center 90.00 Approved Home Care Partners 80.30 Approved Intellect Health Institute N/A Initial Innovative Institute (formerly Total 86.05 Approved Healthcare Innovations) Opportunities Industrialization Center 85.71 Approved University of District of Columbia – 80.00 Approved Community College VMT Educational Center 87.75 Approved Washington Training Institute 53.51 Conditional Required DC Pass Rate 75% Gallup Poll: Nurses Still #1 Gallup’s annual professional-ethics survey, conducted at the end of last year, place nurses in the number one slot when respondents assessed professionals on their ethics. When 1,031 respondents were polled, 82% rated nurses highly or very highly for honesty and ethical standards. Nurses were followed by pharmacists, grade school teachers, medical doctors, military officers and police officers. The professions which have engendered the least amount of trust are State officeholders, car salespeople, Members of Congress and—in last place— Lobbyists. (Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/1654/honesty-ethics-professions.aspx) n e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 17  Nursing Practice DC ACTION COALITION: Removing Practice Barriers Coming Together “The goal of the Coalition is advancing nursing in the community, and creating partnerships and reaching out to the community—universities, churches, and hospitals. The Campaign’s success would be removing barriers that hamper consumers’ access to care,” according to DC Action Coalition member Arlima St. Clair, RN, MSN, President of the DC Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses and Co-Director for the Health Unit at the Organization of American States. Ms. St. Clair welcomed attendees to the program. Setting the context for the program was the coalition’s Non-nurse Co-lead, Reverend Arlima St. Clair, RN, MSN, Co-Director for the Health Unit at the Organization of American Roy Thomas, pastor of the Nazareth Baptist States, and President of the DC Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses; Church in the District: “The goal of today’s Pier A. Broadnax, PhD, RN Director/Associate Professor, University of the District of program is to introduce the coalition to Columbia; Winifred Quinn, PhD, Co-Director of the Center to Champion Nursing in the health care community and begin the America, AARP. discussion on the future of nursing and Action Coalitions are the driving force of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a broad, health care delivery in DC.” national effort to drive implementation of the Institute of Medicine’s blueprint for ensuring that all Americans have access to high quality, patient-centered care in a health care system where nurses contribute as essential partners in achieving success. Action Coalitions are built to effect long-term sustainable change in moving the recommendations into action. Comprised of diverse groups of stakeholders from a variety of sectors, their mission is to develop an issue strategy plan that will be the basis for coalition implementation efforts. The Action Coalitions will further the overall initiative by capturing best practices, determining research needs, tracking lessons learned and identifying replicable models. The District of Columbia Action (IOM) report entitled “The Future of Coalition is a joint effort which unites Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing nurses and nursing champions in calling Health.” for the removal of educational obstacles The DC Action Coalition held its and practice barriers. Action Coalitions inaugural program late in 2013, at the have been established throughout the University of the District of Columbia country as part of the Future of Nursing: (UDC), to introduce the coalition, its Campaign for Action, initiated by AARP goals and activities to the DC health care and inspired by the Institute of Medicine’s community. Rev. Roy D. Thomas, Nazareth Baptist Church 18 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  The DC Action Coalition brings together nurses, physicians, and faith-based organizations. DC is the only coalition where a Co-leader is faith based, and it is the second coalition to have a physician as Co- leader. Need for Action With the influx of new primary-care consumers expected to come with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, health-care leaders are seeking new options for providing primary care to millions of new patients. The solution is clear: nurses Delores Clair Oliver, RN, MHA, CNAA, BC, Chief Operating Officer, Specialty Hospital of should be permitted to practice to the full Washington extent of their knowledge and capabilities. Educational programs should be crafted of AARP’s Center to Champion Nursing Every single nurse is a leader and a patient with an eye on the workforce opportunities in America. “Because of the multitude advocate and as such it is your job to ensure in the region and geared to propel more of problems in access to care, people are a high quality of care.” nurses towards obtaining their BSN. The open to change like never before,” she said. need for advanced-practice nurses, Nurse “Nurses are at the center of innovations Practitioners (NPs), in primary practice to improve quality and control costs. Continued on page 20 is apparent, especially as more and more physicians gravitate toward specialty medicine. The Washington Home & Community Hospices has a rich heritage for compassionate care that is deeply rooted in the community. Located in Northwest DC, its mission is to provide exceptional healthcare with compassion and innovation while fostering dignity and independence in those served. Staff RNs (Part-time and Weekend Opportunities Only) We are currently seeking experienced Registered Nurses to join our team in caring for our patients and residents. The position will be responsible for implementing and managing patient/resident care through the continuing life cycle and end of life care. Qualifications include graduation from an accredited school of nursing and current DC RN licensure. CPR certification is required and medical/ surgical and/or geriatric nursing experience highly preferred. Clinical Liaison RN We are looking for a Clinical Liaison RN to coordinate smooth entry into our hospice service system. This position meets with families referred within assigned facilities to explain care delivery and collaborates with discharge planners and physicians for the entry of patients into hospice. Qualifications include a BSN with at least one year hospice experience preferred. Must be licensed in both DC and Maryland. Keynote speaker Winifred Quinn, PhD Clinical Manager (Long Term Care) We are also seeking a Clinical Manager to plan, manage, and evaluate 24-hour nursing care on a designated unit. This position will make daily rounds on the nursing unit to ensure that all nursing staff are performing their work in a ccordance with our standards. Works closely with the Director of Nursing Crisis is Opportunity to shape the structure and future operations of their unit. To qualify, candidates need a minimum of 5 years’ experience in medical/surgical or geriatric nursing, a current DC RN licensure, and current The crisis in primary care provides CPR certification. Knowledge of Federal and District regulations for long term care and MS Office are us with an opportunity to open minds, needed to excel in this role. BSN preferred. We offer a competitive compensation package and a friendly, professional work environment. To learn according to keynote speaker of the more, please send your resume to: [email protected], fax: (202)895-0133. EOE program, Winifred Quinn, PhD, Co-Director w w w. t h ewa s h i n g t o n h o m e . o r g e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 19  Nursing Practice Continued from page 19 Dr. Quinn made reference to the 2010 IOM report which called for nursing transformation— advocating that nurses be allowed to practice to the full capacity of their abilities, so all Americans can have access to high-quality care. “That IOM report has been the most-viewed report in IOM history,” she said. “Robert Wood Johnson initiated the National Campaign for Action to support the implementation of the IOM recommendations.” Disease Burden Pier A. Broadnax, PhD, RN, Director of the Nursing Program in the UDC Department of Nursing and Health Professions, noted that the new (Affordable Care Act) patients will come into the health care setting with more grave Karen Skinner, RN, MSN, Executive Director, DC Board of Nursing; Terry R. Goodman, Consumer Representative, Unity Health Care; Pier A. Broadnax, PhD. health issues: “These patients will enter the health care system with multiple system involvement, and systems Education and the In the District, 55% of nurses are which have deteriorated. We must increase Workforce minority, but we are lacking in the number of nurses and ensure the During the panel discussion, Latino nurses. The District is also highest levels of quality in nursing care. DC Board of Nursing Executive atypical because 51% of our nurses We need to increase the number of BSN- Director Karen Scipio-Skinner noted: are Baccalaureate-prepared. Board of prepared nurses.” She said that nursing “Nationally, we are seeing healthcare Nursing statistics indicate that DC should be leading at the point of care and delivery moving from acute care to has the highest per capita ratio of developing new models of care. out-patient care. We need data to nurse practitioners, 8.7 per 10,000 Nursing’s advocacy for and determine the workforce needs in as compared to the national per communication with consumers will DC.” The Board of Nursing renewal capita ration of 3.4 per 10,000. Why continue to be crucial. Dr. Broadnax noted process now includes an important the high ratio? DC APRNs were that consumers can be easily lost and job data-gathering component—the granted practice autonomy in 1994. overwhelmed in the health-care world. “If Board licensees’ workforce survey. APRNs can practice independently, the patient is told to come back in three Ms. Scipio-Skinner shared some without requiring collaborative months, does the consumer know what of the results of the first workforce practice agreements with physicians. to do during that 3-month period? We survey, and contrasted the District’s They have independent prescriptive need health education and coordination numbers with those of the nation prescriptive authority, without the of services,” she said. “People are often as a whole. In the United States, requirement of prescription protocols. stymied at point of diagnosis.” 37% of the population is minority; And they can obtain admitting and 19% of nurses are minority. privileges. We are ahead of the curve. 20 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  UDC Professor Dr. Connie Webster Consumer Salutes His Nurse shunned by family members. spoke about the importance of “Angels” However, Mr. Goodman’s shining internships. In addition to a degree, Terry R. Goodman, the DC Action light of hope was the nursing staff: “At students need internships so they Coalition’s Consumer Representative, NRH [MedStar National Rehabilitation get experience — paid experience. “It spoke to participants about how nurses Network], my nurse was my angel. When is unethical to enroll students in a were his lifeline. Their presence was his she arrived at work, she came directly to program which does not qualify them refuge from despair. Mr. Goodman had my room and sung to me.” for the available jobs,” she said. “No been a procurement specialist for the U.S. Mr. Goodman spoke to the nurses in educational program should leave its Senate Sergeant at Arms when he suffered the audience: “You are holy. I couldn’t graduates unemployable.” a devastating health crisis in 2011 and had speak. I was so mad and angry. My family In addition to clinical experiences to leave his job. “I was scared to go to the couldn’t understand what I was saying and internships, degrees must be doctor,” he said. When he finally went, [after the stroke]. Eventually, my family aligned with the job opportunities “I was told I had renal failure. I had fluid came together,” he said. “I wish I went to available. The Coalition and the Board in my heart and lungs. They rushed me the doctor earlier. Now I need a kidney of Nursing have long been advocates to Providence Hospital. When got out of transplant. The majority of kidney patients for “seamless educational pathways” surgery, I had a stroke. Then was told I was are Black. Spirituality and laughter has to expand the nursing workforce HIV positive.” been the key to coping with my medical and to enhance the diversity of the His relationship with his family was condition. God comes first.” professional nursing workforce. There thrown into a tailspin with the HIV needs to be a seamless educational diagnosis. “My oldest brother said ‘Why progression model from NAP to BSN. didn’t you tell me?’ After that diagnosis, Innovative programs can greatly they wouldn’t hug me.” Mr. Goodman facilitate an RN’s effort to attain a spoke of how persons with HIV can be Continued on page 22 BSN. During the panel discussion, attendees were told about a model RN-to-BSN program in Texas that has Local Care Coordinators – RN increased enrollment by 2,000 percent. Full-Time Opportunities The program allows nurses to enter This is a unique position—and a rare opportunity to offer the patient education, care the program at seven different points management, and care coordination others need to learn in order to maintain healthier during the calendar year. In addition, habits—and build longer, happier lives. scholarships were provided for those who qualified. Working remotely from your home and in the field, you will travel locally approximately 50-60% of the week to assigned PCP offices. Dedicated to educating our participants at the PCP office, you will develop and coordinate care plans with physicians, patients, and Delegating to NAPs Alliaed Health professionals to provide engaging, costefficient, quality care to the The Board has endeavored to highest-risk health plan members in your community. regulate and certify Nursing Assistive Personnel (NAPs) by setting standards. We are currently recruiting for candidates residing in Washington DC, Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, or Woodbridge, VA. “It has been a challenge,” according to Ms. Scipio-Skinner. Issues which The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of 3 years of RN experience, RN licensure, may concern nurses in regarding NAPs case management/care coordination experience, the ability to collaborate with include questions such as: “Can I trust physicians for successful program outcomes, and keyboarding/computer proficiency. when I delegate to them? How, what, For more information, please contact and when to delegate?” The Board Sue Stein at [email protected] is working to define the role of the or call our job line at 866-754-1884. NAP, and to specify what tasks are You may also apply online at appropriate for nurses to delegate to www.healthways.com/careers an NAP. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 21  Nursing Practice Continued from page 21 noted that the Association of Black Cardiologists is looking for volunteers Physician Salutes Her Nurse to provide health education to schools Colleagues in wards 5-8 and Prince George’s Physician Jejan “Gigi” El-Boyoumi, County, supporting minority student MD, FACP, told participants that she interest in STEM — science, technology had never fully appreciated the value engineering and mathematics. of nursing until she became a patient. A physician at George Washington Transformation will Be the University, Dr. El-Boyoumi came to New Normal see her nurse colleagues differently The transformation of nursing when she was hospitalized subsequent will happen, Dr. El-Boyoumi assured to her breast-cancer diagnosis. In the participants. When CRNAs (Certified care of the GWU nursing staff: “I Registered Nurse Anesthetists) began experienced love, care, and advocacy practicing in the District, it caused from my nursing angels, my colleagues Jehan “Gigi” El-Boyoumi, MD, FACP, alarm among some people, Dr. El- Physician and Founding Director of Rodham at GWU.” Institute. Boyoumi said. However, now CRNA Dr. El-Boyoumi has a very active practice is not questioned. clinical practice, and is an associate for desensitizing students to some We must continue the push to professor of medicine at GWU. patients: “Medical education today remove practice barriers and to get She criticized medical education ensures that graduates objectify nurses on hospital and health care patients—poor urban minorities with system boards of directors. We must disease burden. We educators have lobby for nursing BSN programs NURSING’S FUTURE: At a Glance failed to create an expectation of which welcome working RNs. We social accountability. We are number must advocate for quality programs Three years ago, the Institute of 37 in outcomes in the world. Only for NAPs. Change will happen when Medicine (IOM) released the report 3% of medical students are African we mobilize for this transformation. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, American.” Removing barriers to nursing will Advancing Health. Its recommendations: Dr. El-Boyoumi cited the need facilitate a transformation which will to combat the deficit in the health greatly benefit the health care system literacy of children in the District. She and the consumers we serve. n • RN-to-BSN: Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training. • NURSE PRACTITIONERS: Advanced- practice registered nurses (APRNs) should be able to practice to the full extent of their education and training. • IN THE BOARDROOM: More nurse leaders should be tapped to serve on hospital boards, and be provided with opportunities for networking and mentoring. (Source: www.iom.edu) Nancie Bruce, RN, PhD, Director of RN-BSN Program, Trinity Washington University; JoAnne Joyner, PhD, APRN, BC; Sonia C. Swayze, MA, RN. 22 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  IOM Report, the affordable Care Act and the dc nurse workforce The IOM The Future of Nursing report issued in (Oct 2010) was based upon a thorough examination of the nursing workforce. The recommendations offered in the report focus on the critical intersection between the health needs of diverse, changing patient populations across the lifespan and the actions of the nursing workforce. The intent of the recommendations was to support efforts to improve the health of the U.S. population through the contributions nurses can make to the delivery of care. The report was designed to serve as a framework for changes in the nursing profession and the health care delivery system. The solutions were directed to individual policy makers, national state and local government leaders, payers, health care researchers, executives and professionals – including nurses and others – as well as to larger groups such as licensing bodies, education institutions, and philanthropic and advocacy organizations, especially those advocating for consumers. There were eight recommendations offered in the report centered on four main issues: 1. Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training. 2. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. 3. Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States. 4. Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure. Considering the impact of both the IOM Report and the Affordable Care Act, in DC we anticipate the need for a well-educated nurse workforce — from advanced practice registered nurses to nursing assistive personnel, with a practice model that will allow all levels of nursing personnel to work to fullest extent of their scope of the practice and education; and we can anticipate health care increasingly being provided in community settings. Allowing nurses to function to the fullest extent of their education has long been a focus of the DC Nursing Community. In 1994 legislation was passed removing practice barriers for the District’s advanced practice registered nurse, which has resulted in the largest per capita number of NPs, according to the 2010 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services National Plan and Provider Enumeration System’s National Provider Identifier (NPI) data; The national per capita ratio of all NPs to 10,000 population was 3.4. with District having the highest per capita ratio of 8.7. Affordable Care Act Reforms DC Action Coalition Leadership •Expand coverage •Hold insurance companies accountable •Lower health care costs •Guarantee more choice, and •Enhance the quality of care for all Americans. The Affordable Care Act actually refers to two separate pieces of legislation — the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152) — together these laws expand Medicaid coverage to millions of low- income Americans and make numerous improvements to both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program Visit the DC Action Coalition webpage at: (CHIP). (Source: www.medicaid.gov). http://campaignforaction.org/state/district-columbia e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 23  Nursing Practice FDA: Health Care Professionals should discontinue prescribing drug products with more than 325 mg of acetaminophen FDA is recommending health care the opioid components in the prescription • took more than the prescribed dose of professionals discontinue prescribing combination drug product. an acetaminophen-containing product and dispensing prescription combination In January 2011 we asked manufacturers in a 24-hour period; drug products that contain more than 325 of prescription combination drug products • took more than one acetaminophen- milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per containing acetaminophen to limit the containing product at the same time; or tablet, capsule, or other dosage unit. There amount of acetaminophen to no more • drank alcohol while taking are no available data to show that taking than 325 mg in each tablet or capsule by acetaminophen products. more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per January 14, 2014. We requested this action dosage unit provides additional benefit to protect consumers from the risk of severe Inadvertent overdose from prescription that outweighs the added risks for liver liver damage which can result from taking combination drugs containing injury. Further, limiting the amount of too much acetaminophen. This category of acetaminophen accounts for nearly half acetaminophen per dosage unit will prescription drugs combines acetaminophen of all cases of acetaminophen-related liver reduce the risk of severe liver injury from with another ingredient intended to treat failure in the United States, some of which inadvertent acetaminophen overdose, which pain (most often an opioid), and these result in liver transplant or death. can lead to liver failure, liver transplant, and products are commonly prescribed to Acetaminophen is also widely used death. consumers for pain, such as pain from as an over-the-counter (OTC) pain and We recommend that health care acute injuries, post-operative pain, or pain fever medication, and is often combined providers consider prescribing combination following dental procedures. with other ingredients, such as cough drug products that contain 325 mg or less of More than half of manufacturers have and cold ingredients. We will address acetaminophen. We also recommend that voluntarily complied with our request. OTC acetaminophen products in another when a pharmacist receives a prescription However, some prescription combination regulatory action. Many consumers for a combination product with more than drug products containing more than 325 mg are often unaware that many products 325 mg of acetaminophen per dosage of acetaminophen per dosage unit remain (both prescription and OTC) contain unit that they contact the prescriber to available. acetaminophen, making it easy to discuss a product with a lower dose of In the near future we intend to institute accidentally take too much. acetaminophen. A two tablet or two capsule proceedings to withdraw approval of Health care providers and pharmacists dose may still be prescribed, if appropriate. prescription combination drug products who have further questions are encouraged In that case, the total dose of acetaminophen containing more than 325 mg of to contact the Division of Drug Information would be 650 mg (the amount in two acetaminophen per dosage unit that remain at 888.INFO.FDA (888-463-6332) or 325 mg dosage units). When making on the market. [email protected]. individual dosing determinations, health Cases of severe liver injury with (Source: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ care providers should always consider the acetaminophen have occurred in patients DrugSafety/ucm381644.htm) n amounts of both the acetaminophen and who: Use of acetaminophen in pregnancy tied to AD/HD. with” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). USA Today (2/25, Painter) reports that One major television network, two acetaminophen has long been thought to the research, which was published online major newspapers, Internet media outlets be safe for use during pregnancy. Feb. 24 in JAMA Pediatrics, is “likely to and consumer medical websites cover a On NBC Nightly News (2/24, story prompt concerns among women who study suggesting an association between 2, 1:10, Williams), medical editor have been told that the medication – expectant mothers’ use of acetaminophen Nancy Snyderman, MD reported on a found in Tylenol and many other pain and during pregnancy and an increased risk for study that found use during pregnancy fever remedies – is safe during pregnancy.” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in of acetaminophen has been tied to an The Los Angeles Times (2/25, A1, their children. All of the sources note that “increased risk of having a child diagnosed Healy) reports that in the study of some 24 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice 64,000 mothers in Denmark and their anyone to stop taking acetaminophen undescended testes in boys.” One study youngsters, “researchers found that kids for its designed use.” The editorial “published in November linked mothers’ whose mothers took the painkiller at any pointed out that the findings “underline frequent Tylenol use (at least 28 total point during pregnancy were 29% more the importance of not taking a drug’s days) during pregnancy with children’s likely to be diagnosed with AD/HD than safety during pregnancy for granted, decreased motor and communication were kids whose mothers took none.” and they provide a platform from which skills as well as behavioral issues.” Notably, “the risk increased the most – by to conduct further related analyses Also covering the story are the CBS 63% – when acetaminophen was taken exploring a potential relationship News (2/25, Jaslow) website, the NBC during the second and third trimesters, between acetaminophen use and altered News (2/25, Fox) website, the Time (2/25, and by 28% when used in the third neurodevelopment.” Park) “Healthland” blog, the CNN (2/25, trimester alone.” When taken just during The Huffington Post (2/25, Pearson) Yanes) “The Chart” blog, Forbes (2/25, the first trimester, however, “the added risk reports, “The findings join a small but Walton), the FOX News (2/25, Kwan) was 9%.” growing body of research – some of it website, HealthDay (2/25, Thompson), According to the Cleveland led by the same researchers on the new Medscape (2/25, Brooks), and AFP (2/25). Plain Dealer (2/25, Townsend), an study – linking acetaminophen use during (Source: American Medical Association accompanying editorial cautioned that pregnancy with health issues such as Morning Rounds e-newsletter) n “the study’s findings should not prompt increased asthma risk in children and representatives of the mission of Congratulations to Ottamissiah KudOs! Congratulations to Dr. Bonita Providence Hospital in action. Providence associates are nominated by their peers, reviewed by previous Mission of Providence Award winners “Missy” Moore, BS, LPN, WCC, CLNI, GC, CHPLN who has been appointed to serve as Chair of the CGFNS International Licensed Practical Nurse Jenkins and Dr. Joanne Joyner on the and selected. “Throughout her 24 year Professional Standards Committee publication of their article entitled career at Providence she has served the (LPN). n “Preparation, Roles, and Perceived mission and demonstrated the values of Effectiveness of Unlicensed Assistive Providence by improving the quality of Personnel,” published in the October life for the residents edition of the Journal of Nursing living at Carroll Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Brassard, recipient of Regulation, the official journal of the Manor. the 2014 American Association of Nurse Practitioners National Council of State Boards of The vision of the Advocate State Award for Excellence. Nursing. Nursing Department at Carroll Manor Congratulations Nursing and to Janice Johnson, Rehabilitation BSN, RN-BC, Center is to Director of integrate care Nursing, Carroll through trusting Manor Nursing relationships, and Rehabilitation unity, integrity, Center. Ms. Johnson respect, dignity and Left to right: DC Board of Nursing member Chioma Nwachukwu, was awarded the cultural diversity DNP, PHCNS-BC, RN; President of the American Association 2013 Mission of for all; to serve all of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Angela K. Golden, DNP, FNP-C, Providence award with Godliness FAA NP and Andrea Brassard, DNSc, MPH, FNP, FAA NP, Senior Janice Johnson at the recent annual and dedication to Strategic Policy Advisor at the Center to Champion Nursing Providence Hospital clinical excellence in America at AARP, and Professorial Lecturer at The George Service Awards banquet. This award is by doing the right Washington University School of Nursing. given to associates who are outstanding thing the first time.” e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 25  Nursing Practice Facilities Must Report Nurse Terminations The DC Board of Nursing’s mission Nationwide Problem is to protect the public from individuals The District is not the only jurisdiction grappling with the with unsafe practice. The Board of problem of unreported terminations. The problem was recently Nursing seeks to identify nurses whose examined in the article “Fired, they still find jobs as nurses,” by nursing practice is deemed unsafe or reporter Brandon Stahl in the Minneapolis Star Tribune [12/9/13]. incompetent. We cannot identify such This piece looked at the case of Kathryn Idovich, a nurse who has individuals, however, if the Board is held six nursing jobs in the last 12 years. not informed about unsafe practice and Ms. Idovich obtained both her LPN and RN licenses without nurse terminations. informing the Minnesota Board that she had a history of alcohol abuse. She embarked on a career which featured multiple firings and multiple DWIs. However, “neither the Nursing Board nor Idovich’s If a nurse is fired, the Board should be apprised of former employers would discuss how she was able to lead such a that information. District law requires that the failure to long career, despite events—four firings, five drunken-driving report should result in a fine against the facility. convictions and failing state sobriety monitoring—that were cited as justification for her license suspension last year.” After being fired by one facility for coming in to work with District of Columbia Law alcohol on her breath, after “a few beers,” she was hired by another According to the DC Code, facilities must report nurse facility, Neilson Place long-term care, in February 2011. In December terminations to the Board of Nursing or be fined: 2012, the Minnesota Board of Nursing suspended her license when she got a felony DWI. The DC Code: § 44-508 Reporting to licensing This particular nurse was unsafe to practice and there are others authority. still practicing in the state. The Star Tribute noted the prevalence of a Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in the unsafe nurses, facilities’ hesitance to report terminations, and the event that a health professional’s: (1) clinical privileges Minnesota Board’s inability to impose penalties against the non- are reduced, suspended, revoked, or not renewed; or reporting facilities: (2) employment or staff membership is involuntarily terminated or restricted for reasons of, or voluntarily A Star Tribune review of Nursing Board disciplinary actions terminated or restricted while involuntary action is being since 2010 found that at least 173 caregivers lost jobs after contemplated for reasons of, professional incompetence, allegations of misconduct and managed to find new nursing mental or physical impairment, or unprofessional or positions. That includes nurses who have been found responsible unethical conduct, a facility or agency shall submit a for maltreating children and vulnerable adults, stolen drugs from written report detailing the facts of the case to the duly their workplaces, practiced while impaired, or whose care has to constituted governmental board, commission, or other led to harm of their patients… By law, employers are supposed authority, if one exists, responsible for licensing that health to tell the Nursing Board when they fire a nurse. But the Nursing professional. Board has not used its power to sanction employers for failing to do so. b The reporting requirement in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a temporary suspension or The article quoted Patti Cullen, the president of Care Providers of relinquishment of privileges or responsibilities if a health Minnesota (long-term providers), who noted that the state’s criminal professional enters and successfully completes a prescribed background check process is flawed and that employers do not share program of education or rehabilitation. As soon as there the information with boards of nursing due to a fear of lawsuits. exists no reasonable expectation that he or she will enter Some nurses who have been repeatedly terminated are and successfully complete such a prescribed program, the unwilling to leave the field of health care. According to the Star facility or agency shall submit a report forthwith pursuant Tribune, Ms. Idovich would still like to work in direct care. After her to subsection (a) of this section. suspension: “She wanted to be a nurse assistant, but the felony DWI disqualified her from providing direct care.” n 26 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  Educational courses for: RN • LPN/LVN • NP • PT • PTA • OT • MD • PA Feeling anonymous at work? Set yourself apart, become certified. Wound Care Education Institute® provides comprehensive online and nationwide onsite courses in the fields of Skin, Wound, Diabetic and Ostomy Management. In just a few days you will have the knowledge needed to become current with the standards of care and legally defensible at bedside. 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Our state of the art online learning We are here to help: management system is fully narrated • Call us at 877-462-9234 by a clinical instructor, self paced and available for most certifications. • Live online chat at www.wcei.net • Email us at [email protected] PCI_PCIDC_030114.indd 1 3/10/14 10:17 AM Dimensions Healthcare System has served the Prince George’s County Community and surrounding areas for almost 70 years. By providing a variety of healthcare services, we have been able to service families young and old throughout the area. As we expand our services to further enhance our ability to serve our community. We have fantastic opportunities available in nursing management and bedside nursing. Nursing Director – Laurel Regional Hospital – Women’s Services and Operating Room Nursing Department Manager – Prince George’s Hospital Center - Labor & Delivery /NICU/Operating Room /Critical Care/Emergency Department List of DHS facilities Prince George’s Hospital Center – Cheverly, MD Registered Nurses with a minimum of one year acute care experience in the following areas: Laurel Regional Hospital – Laurel, MD Emergency, ICU, OR/Surgery Center, Labor & Delivery, NICU The Senior Center – Brentwood, MD If you have a passion for serving others and a desire to make a difference in a Glenridge Medical Center wonderful community, look no further, we have the job for you! – Lanham, MD Bowie Health Campus We offer competitive salaries and Great Benefits. – Bowie, MD DHS Family Health and Wellness Center Please apply online at – Suitland, MD www.dimensionshealth.org e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 27  Nursing Practice Nurse Imposters — Practicing Without a License alters his/her credentials and practices or attempts to practice in another capacity. By Felicia Stokes, BSN, JD, based on article by belonged to someone who was in fact 5. A person claiming to be a licensed nurse Valerie Smith, RN, MS, Associate Director of a licensee of the Board. The legitimate may have completed a nursing program and Arizona Board of Nursing. (Portions reprinted/ licensee and Ms. B had a similar first name, may have been licensed at one time, but is modified with permission of the Arizona Board of but did not have the same last name. The not currently eligible for nursing licensure. Nursing. The original article was entitled “Two Board of Nursing confirmed that Ms. B’s Nurse Imposters Practicing Without a License license credentials were invalid. If the facility Four Red Flags Employers & Convicted of Felonies,” and was published in the compared the legitimate nurse licensee’s Managers Must Know Arizona Board of Nursing Regulatory Journal.) name with the legal name of their employee Although the typical impostor often or asked Ms. B. for verification of a name has some prior healthcare related training Case #1: Mr. A was reported to the change (she indicated that her last name or exposure, imposters have great potential Board of Nursing after the Human Resources had changed) they would have identified the to place patients at risk as they lack the Department of a facility was unable to verify discrepancy. appropriate training and experience to Mr. A’s license credentials. The copy of the The District of Columbia Board of provide the type and level of care for which wallet license Mr. A allegedly provided his Nursing discovered that both of these they may be employed. Following is a list of employer contained his picture, but the individuals worked for a number of years red flags for managers and employers that an license number for someone else; and the using “RN” credentials in more than one individual may be a nurse imposter: signature of the director of the Department facility. The DCBON has continued to see a of Health was incorrect. In addition, rise in the number of individuals claiming • Failure to provide the license. Claims to the wall certificate reflected Mr. A’s legal to be licensed nurses or working in positions have a license and may even provide you name, but the license number belonged to that require nursing licensure without valid with a license number and expiration date someone else who was a legitimate (expired) license and credentials. How can you avoid but has multiple reasons why they cannot licensee. The Board of Nursing confirmed having this occur in your facility? provide you with the actual license (“It that Mr. A’s paper license credentials were was stolen; I’m waiting for the board to invalid. In this circumstance, if the facility Five Ways Nurse Imposters Gain send me a new license..….”) compared the legitimate licensee’s number Employment • Provides copied & altered license. You with legal name of their employee, Mr. A, 1. A person steals the identity of another may be provided with a copy of license they would have identified the discrepancy. licensed nurse and practices; but not the actual license document 2. An unlicensed person poses as a “nurse” issued by the Board. Review of the copied Case #2: Ms. B was reported to the Board and may subsequently practice nursing or document reflects: after a facility discovered the employee represent to patients and the public that they § The typeset of the name, expiration date they hired was unable to produce a copy are a licensed nurse; and/or license number is different from of her license. Ms. B allegedly provided a 3. A person gains nursing licensure based on the typeset otherwise on the license. valid license number on her employment fraudulent credentials; § The expiration date is not consistent application. The legitimate license number 4. A person is licensed in one capacity and with the standard Board issued DC Statutes Related to registration, or certification, under this § 3-1210.03. Certain representations Unlicensed Practice: chapter. prohibited. (b) Unless authorized to practice as § 3-1210.01. Practicing without license, § 3-1210.02. Misrepresentation. an advanced practice registered nurse registration, or certification. Unless authorized to practice a health under this chapter, a person shall not use No person shall practice, attempt occupation under this chapter, a person or imply the use of the words or terms to practice, or offer to practice a health shall not represent to the public by title, “advanced practice registered nurse,” occupation licensed, registered, certified, or description of services, methods, or “A.P.R.N.,” “certified registered nurse regulated under this chapter in the District procedures, or otherwise that the person is anesthetist,” “C.R.N.A.,” “certified nurse unless currently licensed, registered, or authorized to practice the health occupation midwife,” “C.N.M.,” “clinical nurse certified, or exempted from licensure, in the District. specialist,” “C.N.S.,” “nurse practitioner,” 28 District of Columbia Nurse: Regulation • Education • Practice  Nurse Imposter Warning Kenneth Hopkins came to the attention of the Board when he secured employment with a facility in the District of Columbia. Mr. Hopkins provided credentials under his own name, but using a Registered Nurse license number under a different name. Upon investigation, the Department of Health was unable to find any evidence of licensure and determined that Mr. Hopkins was not licensed as an RN in DC. Please contact the Metropolitan Police Department and the Board of Nursing if he applies for a job as a Registered Nurse at your facility. If you have any knowledge or information regarding the employment practices of the following individual, please contact the Board of Nursing, (202) 724-8800. n expiration date of 6/30/_ _. of a document, alterations to the original § The signature from the Director is source document will be more evident. • Be sure that the individual’s name on inaccurate. • If your organization or facility requires the nursing license matches the name § Unusual lines indicative of “cut and that a copy of the nursing license be on his or her identification. Do not paste” may be on the copied document. maintained in the personnel file, make accept if the name does not match the § Written/typed information on the a copy from the original license. Do identification. If an individual has a copied document is slanted, not level. not accept a copy from the applicant/ legal name change, he or she is required • Demonstration of competencies employee. to submit that to the DCBON. Such a inconsistent with licensure. The • Do not allow an individual to work in a name change will be reflected on their individual’s of standard nursing duties capacity that requires nursing licensure nursing license and on the Online does not reflect the level of practice that without having visualized the license Professional License Search. would be expected given the nursing and verifying the status of the license • Maintain the security of files that licensure, education or experience that with the issuing Board of Nursing. For contain copies of nursing staff’s they claim. District of Columbia licenses, verify the licenses. A common way of obtaining • Inconsistent licensure information. license with the DCBON. another individual’s license is theft from Individual claims to have a than the employer records or from the actual name on the nursing license. (“That is my You may verify a license through the DC nurse. married/maiden name; I have two last Department of Health’s website, http://app. • Report all cases of suspected fraudulent names….”) hpla.doh.dc.gov/weblookup and click on representation or practice of nursing Online Professional License Search. Confirm to the DCBON. If you are aware of Employer & Manager Safeguards that information provided by DCBON is other ways imposter nurses have been Against Imposters consistent with information provided by the identified but not hired or previously • Insist upon seeing the original license, applicant, including name, license type and reported, please contact the D.C. Board not a copy. Although easy to alter a copy number, and expiration date. of Nursing at 202-724-8800. n “N.P.,” or any similar title or description to represent that the person practices § 3-1210.07. Criminal penalties. of services with the intent to represent that practical nursing. (a) Any person who violates any the person practices advanced registered provision of this chapter shall, upon nursing. (r) Unless authorized to practice conviction, be subject to imprisonment registered nursing under this chapter, a not to exceed 1 year, or a fine not to (p) Unless authorized to practice person shall not use the words or terms exceed $ 10,000, or both. (b) Any person practical nursing under this chapter, a “registered nurse,” “certified nurse,” who has been previously convicted under person shall not use the words or terms “graduate nurse,” “trained nurse,” “R.N.,” this chapter shall, upon conviction, be “practical nurse,” “licensed practical or any similar title or description of subject to imprisonment not to exceed 1 nurse,” “L.P.N.,” or any similar title or services with the intent to represent that year, or a fine not to exceed $ 25,000, or description of services with the intent the person practices registered nursing. both. n e-mail: [email protected] • web: http://doh.dc.gov/bon 29  Board Disciplinary Actions NAME LICENSE # ACTION Non-Public Disciplinary Actions: Anthony Amato RN1029671 Summarily Suspended Referrals to COIN 3 Lillian Webb LPN7069 Reinstated Jonetta Foster HHA1772 Revoked Notice of Intent to Discipline 9 Wendy Duncan NA604794 Suspended Consent Orders 6 Senora Seaborne RN65516 Revoked Requests to Withdraw 20 Jasline Jesson RN1023884 Probation Letters of Concern 4 Names and license numbers are published as a means of protecting the public Requests to Surrender 1 safety, health and welfare. Only Final Decisions are published. Final Orders and the Certified Nurse Aide Abuse Registry can be assessed by going to http://doh.dc.gov. Public vs. Non-Public Discipline Public Discipline: Disciplinary actions that are reported to Nursys, National Practitioner’s Data Bank and viewed in DC NURSE and at http://app.hpla.doh.dc.gov/weblookup/. Non-Public Discipline: Disciplinary actions that constitute an agreement between the Board and the licensee and, if complied, are not made public. A m e m b e r o f N u r s e s S e r v i c e O r g a n i z a t i o n ( N S O**) Targeted Networking ** N S O m a y c o v e r m o s t o f y o u r a t t o r n e y f e e s . The “NEW” Classifieds (1.5” wide x 1” high) Reach every nurse in Washington, D.C., Izu I. Ahaghotu, RN, JD R E SE RV E for as little as $225. Contact Tom Kennedy A T T O R N E Y A T L A W YOU R SPAC E [email protected] NOW ! 1-800-561-4686 Thrive as a Legal Nurse Consultant! 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MedStar Georgetown was the first hospital in Washington, D.C., to obtain Magnet status and remains the only adult Magnet hospital in the city. Magnet nurses deliver exceptional patient care. Magnet status demonstrates our commitment to our patients and helps us realize our vision of caring for people and advancing health. Join our nursing team and deliver exceptional patient care in an empowered, collaborative environment that exemplifies Magnet! MedStarGeorgetown.org/Nursing EOE