Identifying problems with the Arizona Board of Nursing and exploring solutions
Many nurses have identified problems with the Arizona State Board of Nursing. This is being established as a forum where nurses can develop a systematic plan to articulate the problems with the board, examine those who control the board's activities all the way up to the top, and explore solutions, planning out who is going to carry out what action.
We are not sufficiently funded or large enough to do this ourselves. But we can provide guidance and a place where plans can be made and carried out.
We know there is a Facebook page devoted to cataloguing problems with the Arizona Board of Nursing. This is a good start. Problems with Facebook pages are that content is in constant flux and it is difficult to form and keep track of a plan. So we are happy to do that here.
We would like everyone who has a complaint of unfair treatent from the Arizona Board of Nursing to contact us with so we can post this here and catalogue the complaints. Please send your concerns to ssummers@truthaboutnursing.org
Is there a state ombudsman (Yes--here http://www.azoca.gov) or an Inspector General? (Yes, but not sure if they oversee the board of nursing, but worth an inquiry.
Where does someone go to complain about someone working within the state government?
Misconduct by the Arizona state government. The Board of Nursing is quasi state authority, are employees working for the state? Do the staff members have other jobs?
Do the Board of Nursing board of directors have jobs other than at the Board of Nursing? Yes, but they do not appear especially heavy on hospital administrators.
Randy C. Quinn, RN, MSN, CRNA Board President, Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Carolyn Jo McCormies, RN, MS, FNP-BC Board Vice President, Nursing Director of the Nursing Program at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Arizona. She also works as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Mount Graham Family Practice in Safford, Arizona
Theresa (Terri) Berrigan, LPN, C-AL Board Secretary, Koelsch Senior Communities in Mesa, Arizona. She has been a licensed practical nurse since 1990
Lori A. Gutierrez, BS, RN-C, DON-CLTC, CBN Board Member, national Clinical Development Specialist for Chamberlain College of Nursing, and is also a Consultant and Clinical Educator specializing in Long Term Care with consulting group Clinical Advisors for Resources and Educational Services
Jana Machesky, LPN Board Member, Case Manager for Post-Acute Transitions at United Health Group, Mesa, Arizona
Kathryn L. Busby, J.D. Board Member, government relations consultant specializing in health care. She represents various health care providers and entities providing government relations representation and advice, and consultation on regulatory, contracting and other health care related issues
Brandon E. Dale (lone non-nurse) Board Member, Regional V.P. for Hanger Clinic. He Received his MBA from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business. He attended San Francisco State University and received his BS in Kinesiology/Physiology. Mr. Dale also attended Northwestern University/Orthotic and Prosthetic Center to receive his certificate in Orthotics and Prosthetics. He has been a Senior General Manager with 20 years healthcare experience in orthotics and prosthetics and developed Critical and Rehabilitative Equipment Solutions (CARE). Mr. Dales’ professional memberships include Foundation for Burns & Trauma as a board member and Arizona Disabled Sports and American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association board member
M. Shawn Harrell, RN, MS Board Member, worked for John C. Lincoln Health Network in Phoenix, Arizona, for 15 years. During her tenure at JCL, she served as Director of College Nursing Programs for 8 years, working in partnership with Paradise Valley Community College and Grand Canyon University. She has also served as a Nursing Administrator for Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, and on the faculty of Arizona State University's College of Nursing. Ms. Harrell has a Health Care project management consulting business, Harrell Consultations, and is an adjunct faculty member of Grand Canyon University
Cecelia Andersen, BSN, RN Board Member, was involved in the ownership of Andersen Health Care Consulting that included startups for behavioral health projects and outpatient clinics. She is a Retired Administrator at Department of Economic Security – Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Melinda Pheanis Preston, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC Board Member, provides psychiatric consults and ongoing service at Foothills Neurology. Her research involves the co-morbidity of migraine and mood issues and use of continuing education to change clinical decision-making. She maintains an active drug research practice with NoesisPharma
Melanie D. Logue, Ph.D., DNP. APRN, CFNP, FAANP Board Member, Dean and Professor at Grand Canyon University in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions
How do you pursue a complaint about a state entity, low level state officers?
Can you go higher up in the state government who can investigate waste, fraud and abuse? Does the board of directors have a bias toward management?
We need a list of complaints of the board--one small paragraph each.
Complain all the way up to the governor or the governor's deputies in charge of professional licensing, "Business and professions"
BoN is under the executive branch and ultimately the governor
Executive branch enforces and implements the laws and generally such agencies report up the line to the governor. Who can find out if this is the case in Arizona?
Nurse practice act--what does it say about how the board is structured?
Has the power to alter the nurse practice act and to investigate and monitor how the law is being carried out. They can call for changes. They should have investigatory power and can hold hearings on misconduct on part of the state government
State legislature has supervisory responsibility over the state government, and committees.
Complain to state legislator. Constituents treated unfairly by state government. Refer my matter to some state government committee
Frame it in terms of patient safety--especially Amanda Trujillo case, that was so clearly a patient advocacy effort.
The NLRB is responsible for relations between employers and employees. If you are not represented by a union, you are represented under the National Labor Relations Act. Concerted activities (. https://www.nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect and https://www.nlrb.gov/what-we-do. Employers seem to be using the board of nursing as a vehicle to go after employees then employer won't have to defend trumped up complaint
Unfair action by the employer
Unfair action by the board of nursing taking away licenses for arbitrary reasons
Who can investigate this?
Getting their involvement would generally require a lawsuit.
Once we flesh out the above two sections we will begin making a plan--with your help
Other ideas? Please send Sandy Summers your suggestions
This page is the personal effort of Sandy Summers and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Truth About Nursing's board of directors or advisory panel.