Nursing Board Chastised For Delays In Resolving Negligence Complaints
The state auditor said that if the board does not come up with a plan to resolve the problem by March 1, the legislature should consider moving the board’s enforcement responsibilities to the state Department of Consumer Affairs.
The Mercury News:
California Auditor Blasts State Nursing Board For Investigation Delays
In a blistering report issued Tuesday, the California state auditor warned the Board of Registered Nursing that its delays in resolving complaints against nurses accused of negligence involving patient injury or death pose a serious threat to others. Among the cases cited in the audit was a complaint alleging that a nurse caused a toddler’s death by administering the wrong dose of medication. The audit said the nursing board initially assigned the complaint to its investigative unit, but the board’s chief of investigations acknowledged that it did nothing with the complaint for roughly 18 months. (Seipel, 12/13)