Contacting the Indiana Board of Nursing | Indiana Nursing Contact

Contacting the Indiana Board of Nursing may be necessary if you have questions or issues with renewing your license. There are multiple ways to contact the Indiana Board of Nursing, depending on the issue you need resolved or your questions.

Questions Regarding Your License

Nurses who have questions regarding the status of their application, expiration dates, education requirements, and other license questions can get directed through email at pla2@pla.in.gov and by phone at 317-234-2043. You can find other frequently asked questions on the Indiana Board of Nursing Page. It’s always helpful to search online to see if your questions are answerable there before contacting the Board.

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How Do I Contact the Indiana State Nursing Assistance Program (ISNAP)?

The Indiana State Nursing Assistance Program ISNAP is free of charge program for nurses struggling with substance abuse. That helps them find solutions for recovery while allowing them to continue working.

To best reach a member of ISNAP, they recommend calling their toll-free number at 844-687-7309. Additionally, nurses can subscribe to a monthly informational newsletter via email at info@INPRP.org.

Additional Points of Contact

Suppose you’re having trouble finding a contact within the Indiana Board of Nursing. In that case, the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency provides other resources. This includes a live chat option that allows you to speak with a state information officer. This function is at the bottom of the PLA homepage. Nurses also have the opportunity to call a helpline at 1-800-457-8283. Additionally, for those that prefer texting to calling, you can reach a text helpline at 1-855-463-5292.

If you still have questions, contact Chelle Law today to schedule a consultation. We assist nurses with all Indiana Board of Nursing issues.

Other Blog of Interest

• Indiana Board of Nursing Continuing Education Requirements
• Do I Report a DUI to the Indiana Board of Nursing?

How to Report Someone to the Indiana Board of Nursing

A time may occur when you find it necessary to report a nurse to the Indiana Board of Nursing. That is whether you are a patient who has received inadequate care or a coworker noticing a pattern of destructive behavior. The Board, along with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, have many resources for any person to file a complaint. 

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For Consumers (General Public)

Whether you’re a patient or a patron, you may be looking to report a nurse. You have a choice with who to file your complaint, either the Board of Nursing or directly with the Attorney General’s Office. 

If contacting the Board of Nursing, they can be reached via email at pla2@pla.in.gov or by phone at 317-234-2043. For further questions attempting to contact the Board, please reference a recent blog we made here. 

If contacting the Attorney General’s office directly, there are several means for a person to file a complaint. First, you can access a printable consumer complaint form or an online version on the Attorney General’s website. You can fill out this form with all the details of your complaint. If you need additional support accessing a form, you can reach the Attorney general’s office by phone at either 1.800.382.5516 or 317.232.6330. You can also file a Do Not Call/Text complaint here. 

Additional Tips for Filling Out a Consumer Complaint

To make sure your complaint is heard and processed, the Office of the Attorney General has several tips, including:

• A consumer transaction (such as a purchase) must have occurred before our office can investigate a complaint.
• If you have documents to support your claim, you must send copies of them to us. Please do not send original documents.
• Our office will contact you by mail as your complaint progresses through the process. Please allow adequate time for our office to notify you.
• You may get referred to another agency. Often another local, state, or federal agency will have the legal authority or more expertise than our office to handle a particular consumer problem.

For Non-Consumers/Coworkers

Those wishing to file a complaint but have no commercial transaction attached to their report. It is best to reach the Indiana Board of Nursing to make sure your complaint is heard. Reference to our previous page regarding contacting the Board here.

Indiana Board of Nursing Attorney

The Indiana Board of Nursing protects and promotes the welfare of the people of Indiana. They do this by ensuring each person who holds a license as a nurse in the State of Indiana is competent to practice safely. This means the Indiana Board of Nursing has the authority to discipline the license of any nurse. Chelle Law’s Indiana Board of Nursing attorneys has represented over 600 nurses. They have the experience to help nurses with Indiana Board of Nursing matters. We assist:

• Registered Nurses (RN).
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).
• Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA).
• Nurse Practitioners (NP).
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).
• Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS).

Indiana Board of Nursing Complaint

Who can file a complaint against a nurse? Patients, health care facilities, and other nurses, among others. When the Indiana Board of Nursing receives a complaint, Board initiates an investigation into the complaint (if the Board has jurisdiction and the complaint doesn’t get dismissed). After this happens, the nurse will receive a notice, and the board assigns an investigator to the case. Please note that having an attorney during this step can be crucial for nurses as they must submit a response. Interview with the investigator while also possibly appearing at an Indiana Board of Nursing Meeting.

Complaints are taken very seriously by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. They commonly investigate each complaint they receive. This protects public health and ensures the licensee is competent and ethical. Complaints are sometimes filed directly to the Office of the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division (referred to as the Division below). This investigates and prosecutes all complaints concerning regulated occupations such as nursing.

Indiana Nursing License Under Investigation

The Division will receive a complaint and will first decide as to its merit. Suppose the nurse who is the subject of the complaint is registered with the Indiana State Board of Nursing. Then they will fall under the state’s jurisdiction, and thus, the Division will take action. They will notify the licensee of the complaint’s nature and ramifications and try to resolve the complaint through negotiation.

A 30-day period then elapses before a further investigation can occur. During this time, the negotiation takes place. If an agreement is reached by the Division and the subject of the complaint signs a statement that it gets fixed, no further action takes place at that time.

However, if no agreement is reached in that thirty days, the Division can proceed with the investigation. They can call for witnesses, collect documents and conduct interviews with interested parties. If discipline is to take place, the attorney general receives this information and may prosecute and call for a public hearing on behalf of the state of Indiana.

Nursing Board Application Denial Assistance

Applicants to the Indiana Board of Nursing have a criminal history or previous discipline by the Indiana Board of Nursing (or any other Nursing Board). It may be subject to denial of their application for licensure. Thus, the Indiana Board of Nursing will investigate those with a criminal or disciplinary history from other licensing boards.

Reporting a Criminal Conviction to the Indiana Nursing Board

Indiana law (IC 25-1-1.1-1) holds any licensed or certified individual convicted of a misdemeanor (except traffic-related convictions) or felony. They must notify their Indiana Licensing Board within 90 days of entering the order or judgment.

Indiana Professionals Recovery Program

The Indiana Professionals Recovery Program (IPRP) is the Board’s non-disciplinary, confidential monitoring program for healthcare professionals, including Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and CRNAs licensed in Indiana. The design of the IPRP Program is for nurses with substance use disorders. Nurses interested in IPRP must voluntarily request entry and meet certain eligibility criteria or may be required to enter the program via mandatory regulatory admission.

Nursing Administrative Appeal and Hearing

Any licensee may request an appeal of an Indiana Board of Nursing disciplinary action to an administrative law judge with the Indiana Office of Administrative Law Proceedings (OALP) within the Indiana State Personnel Department (SPD). This OALP is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2020, but may be subject to change. In some instances, a case is sent automatically to a hearing. OALP conducts the administrative hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The hearing is not as formal as a trial but is similar. Each party presents evidence using documents or sworn testimony. Each party also gives an opening and closing argument explaining why the judge should rule one way or the other. A nurse’s attorney can cross-examine witnesses and testify on their behalf. After the hearing, the ALJ reviews the transcripts and evidence and makes a recommendation. 

However, the Board decides to accept, reject or modify the ALJ’s decision. If an individual feels there has been a mistake, they can request a rehearing.

Indiana Nurse Disciplinary Actions

Indiana Board of Nursing disciplinary actions are given to nurses with a license or certification in Indiana. If the Board determines formal disciplinary action is necessary, it will happen after the completion of an investigation. It’s the job of the Board to review any complaint alleging a violation of the Indiana Nurse Practice Act. Thus, at an Indiana Nursing Board Meeting, the Board will vote to determine the outcome of each investigation. The Board can vote on a non-disciplinary outcome or vote to offer the formal nurse discipline, such as:

• Censure – official disapproval on the record but doesn’t affect the license.
• Letter of reprimand – on the official record but not affecting the license.
• Probation – the licensee must report to the board regularly.
• Limitations on practice.
• A fine assessed not to exceed $1,000.
• Suspension of license.
• Revocation of license.

Contact us today if you’re interested in setting up a consultation with our Indiana Board of Nursing Attorney and would like to learn more about the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency or any services we provide to Indiana nurses.

Can You Be a Nurse in Indiana With a Felony?

Like 31 other states, Indiana, requires those applying for licenses to submit a “national criminal background check.” Prospective nurses with a felony or criminal conviction may wonder if this will keep them from being employed. There is hope, however, as the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency can either approve an application without further action or request an individual’s appearance before the board to gather more information.

Contact an Indiana Board of Nursing Attorney

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Criminal Background Hearings

Individuals set to have a hearing in front of the board may be asking what steps they need to take. In addition to requesting an appearance, the PLA may request additional information regarding the criminal activity or related documentation. Applicants who don’t have these items on hand can obtain them from the court or law enforcement agency that processed the matter. Further, the PLA can require applicants to write a statement explaining how the offense gets resolved.

Indiana Nursing License Expunged Offenses

Nursing professionals seeking a professional license in Indiana can have previous offenses expunged from their criminal history. Applicants can do this by petitioning the local court or through private legal counsel. Once a court grants a petition, the file is expunged or sealed. The court will send the files to the Indiana State Police Expungement Section, and they will comply with the order. Afterward, you can apply for an Indiana nursing license, which will likely get approved without further investigation.

Legal Representation

Contact Chelle Law for assistance if your clearance gets denied for a criminal background check from a license. We help ensure all related court documents are collected and complete any statement you write. Obtaining an attorney with experience will help you present your case most favorably. They can help you bring your license and get on with your career.

Contact Chelle Law today if you have questions about Indiana Board Criminal Background Checks and want to learn more about our services.

Common Board of Nursing Disciplinary Actions | Complaints

What are the options for a board to discipline a nurse? Now, before I get started, this topic is very state specific. Every state has its spectrum of disciplinary actions. So, my talk today is going to be general. This means it may be different in the state that you’re in. But this is the typical structure of what kind of disciplinary action is for the board. There are usually three options for non-disciplinary actions, and I think I should just go through those first. If a complaint is filed, a case can be dismissed, and the board could dismiss it for several reasons.

Two Most Common Forms of Dismissal

There are two common reasons for dismissal. One, the board doesn’t have jurisdiction over the complaint. Then two, the conduct alleged in the complaint is not a violation of the nurse practice act. The other way of dismissing the case is after an investigation. It can get dropped if they believe there are no grounds to discipline the nurse. Most boards will then have a non-disciplinary option. I know here in Arizona; it’s called a letter of concern. It could be a reprimand or advisory letter. It goes by different names, but I’ll call it a letter of concern. It’s simply a letter that goes in your file on the board. It states concern about the incident, but it’s not considered formal disciplinary action. It wouldn’t get reported to any databases, nurses, or national practitioner databases.

Non-Disciplinary Continuing Education

It would just be kind of on file with the board. And if the nurse were to get in trouble in the future, they would search back at the letter of concern and then decide whether they need to take additional action. Some boards also offer an administrative penalty, which would be considered non-disciplinary. Suppose a nurse files for the renewal late or doesn’t provide the necessary fee. In that case, some boards usually give a fine or admit a straight penalty. Most of the time, that’s not considered disciplinary action. The last option would be a non-disciplinary agreement for continuing education. Now, not every state requires continuing education for nursing professionals. It’s not an option in every state. But many states offer non-disciplinary continuing education where they’d have to take a course in documentation, nursing ethics, assessments, etc. 

Common Disciplinary Action Options 

Decree of Center

Those are all the non-disciplinary options. We’re here for the standard disciplinary options, and I’ll go through those. Most states usually have a decree of center or letter of reprimand. It’s a formal document that somehow states the nurse violated the state law. But it doesn’t rise to the level where the nurse is on probation. It’s like a formal slap on the wrist. It gets reported to the database, and nursing professionals and the nurse would have to report it in the future. If on any employment application, it stated, have you ever received formal discipline from a board? They’d have to answer “yes,” but it’s a decent outcome in many cases. I guess the two choices were probation or decree of center. The decree of the center is the better route to go.

Disciplinary Order for Continuing Education

Another disciplinary option is disciplinary order for continuing education. There’s a non-disciplinary potential and then a disciplinary potential, depending upon the facts of the situation. I mean, the order would be the same. They must do a certain amount of continuing education where they could get in trouble. In this case, the clinical problem may have risen to the level that the board felt they needed to put on the record. And so, a disciplinary order for continuing education is another option. Many states use the civil penalty, just like a fine, usually somewhere between $500 to $2,000. The difference between what led up to a complaint that ended up in a decree center and a civil penalty is maybe the civil penalty route was a little more concerning to the board. But that’s another option as well. 

Probationary

Anything after that, for the most part, would be probationary. If a nurse, let’s just take, for instance, a nurse who had substance abuse problems and she had several DUIs, and the board felt it was necessary to put her on probation. Normal probation would include well, for substance abuse, random drug testing, AA participation, and some level of monitoring at work. Maybe you can’t pass narcotics for a period. Maybe they’ll make the nurse do counseling. They could add continuing education to a consent agreement as well. Probation can usually last from a year up to three years or more. And then, after the probationary period, the nurses fulfilled all of the probation obligations. They’re no longer on probation, their licenses unencumbered, and they can work freely without any requirements.

Suspension of Medical License

The levels after that are bad. One would be a suspension. A nurse can undergo suspension in several ways. If they were on a consent agreement and they violated the terms of the agreement. Most boards have the option to suspend the nurse’s license. If there’s a bad incident, the board can take a summary suspension where the board will take emergency actions to suspend a nurse’s license. Those are kind of two ways the board can suspend a license. And then finally, revocation is the worst-case scenario for a nurse. That is discipline. Suppose, once again, they violate the terms of a current consent agreement. In that case, many boards have an automatic option where the nurse’s license gets revoked. Once again, if there’s a heinous incident, it could also lead to a quick revocation.

Voluntary Surrendering of License

It’s not typical for a nurse’s license to get revoked. I mean, less than a fraction of 1% of nurses how their license gets revoked. It must be tough and concerning conduct to get to that level. But it is always an option, and I guess there’s one more. A nurse can voluntarily surrender their license. That is considered a disciplinary action. I have nurses sometimes, and maybe they’re toward the end of their careers. They’re not interested in going on probation or fulfilling the terms of the offer consent agreement. And they can just give up their license. It’s called surrender. Therefore, they no longer have their license. Usually, there would be a fixed period when they could reapply if they wanted to. But a voluntary surrender is considered a disciplinary action as well.

Those are the common reasons for a board of nursing and for disciplinary actions from the board of nursing. There’s a broad spectrum of things they can do. I get asked, what’s your win rate, or what are your outcomes? I mean, it’s impossible to answer as an attorney who represents nurses. Getting a nurse on probation and not getting their license revoked can be a huge win. Getting somebody dismissed versus a decree of center could also be a huge one. It just depends upon the conduct. And most boards will have a range. I mean, I can just see a case and understand, alright, this is where it will fall within. But suppose you’re looking for an attorney and ask that question. In that case, it’s difficult to answer because every situation is unique.