California Nursing Board Faces Long Road Ahead for Streamlining Investigation Process

Last month, the Los Angeles Times and the not-for-profit news organization ProPublica published an investigation finding that the California Board of Registered Nursing takes an average of more than three years to settle misconduct complaints against nurses.

Following the report’s publication, the board’s executive director resigned and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) replaced most panel members.

Advocates are calling on state officials to improve and streamline the board’s complaint investigation process.

In a California Healthline Special Report by Kelly Wilkinson, experts discussed the challenges facing the nursing board.

The Special Report includes comments from:

Stacie Berumen, enforcement division chief with the California Board of Registered Nursing;
Julie D’Angelo Fellmeth, administrative director of the Center for Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego’s School of Law;
Kathy Sackman, president of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals; and
Daryl Walker, acting chief of the Department of Consumer Affairs’ investigation division.

The nursing board plans to hold a meeting later this month to consider various recommendations for reforming its processes (Wilkinson, California Healthline, 8/10).

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

<h1>California Nursing Board Faces Long Road Ahead for Streamlining Investigation Process</h1>
<div>		<time class="posted-on" datetime="2009-08-10T00:00:00-07:00">
			August 10, 2009		</time>
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Last month, the Los Angeles Times and the not-for-profit news organization ProPublica published an investigation finding that the California Board of Registered Nursing takes an average of more than three years to settle misconduct complaints against nurses.Following the report’s publication, the board’s executive director resigned and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) replaced most panel members.Advocates are calling on state officials to improve and streamline the board’s complaint investigation process.In a California Healthline Special Report by Kelly Wilkinson, experts discussed the challenges facing the nursing board.The Special Report includes comments from:<ul><li>Stacie Berumen, enforcement division chief with the California Board of Registered Nursing; </li><li>Julie D’Angelo Fellmeth, administrative director of the Center for Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego’s School of Law; </li><li>Kathy Sackman, president of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals; and </li><li>Daryl Walker, acting chief of the Department of Consumer Affairs’ investigation division.</li></ul>The nursing board plans to hold a meeting later this month to consider various recommendations for reforming its processes (Wilkinson, California Healthline, 8/10).<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us">KFF Health News</a> is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about <a href="https://www.kff.org/about-us">KFF</a>.<a href="https://californiahealthline.org/morning-briefing/">Subscribe</a> to KFF Health News' free Morning Briefing.

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