Is a Letter of Concern from the Arizona Board of Nursing Public?
Yes and No. A letter of concern is not considered formal discipline and is not reported to NURSYS (the national database for verification of nurse licensure). So, a letter of concern would never show up if an employer were to verify your license on NURSYS.
What is a Letter of Concern?
A letter of concern from the Arizona Board of Nursing is a letter sent to the nurse that expresses concern that the nurse’s conduct was not ideal; however, the conduct does not necessarily violate the Nurse Practice Act.
However, a letter of concern is subject to Arizona Public Records Law and if someone were to specifically request a nurse’s disciplinary or non-disciplinary history the Board would be required to provide it. That scenario would be extremely rare and should not cause concern for the nurse.
What is NURSYS?
NURSYS is the only national database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline and practice privileges for RNs and LPN/VNs licensed in participating boards of nursing, including all states in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Under current laws, past discipline cannot be removed from NURSYS. In 2018, the Board moved license verification from the Board’s website to NURSYS. Previous Board policy removed all disciplinary actions from a nurse’s record after a five-year period.
NPDB Discipline
So, When is Discipline from the Arizona Nursing Board Removed From the NPDB? Formal discipline from the Arizona Board of Nursing is never removed from the National Practitioner Database (“NPDB”). The NPDB is a web-based repository of reports containing information on medical malpractice payments and certain adverse actions related to health care practitioners, providers, and suppliers. Many employers will run a NPDB report prior to hiring a nurse.
What Does the Board Consider Discipline?
- Revocation
- Suspension
- Voluntary Surrender
- Probation (Consent Agreement)
- Civil Penalty
- Decree of Censure
If you’re interested in learning more about our Arizona Nursing Board Discipline services and how to protect your rights, set up a consultation with Chelle Law and our Arizona Nursing Attorney reach out to us today.
