State of Nevada

Nevada State Board of Nursing
". . . protecting the public's health, safety and welfare 
through effective nursing regulation . . ."

 Seal of Nevada

 

 

Minutes of Annual Business Meeting
July 13-15, 2005 

 

These are FINAL minutes ratified by the Board

 

The Regular Meeting of the Nevada State Board of Nursing was called to order by President, Patty Shutt, LPN, at 9:00 a.m. on July 13, 2005, at the Holiday Inn Express, 55 Commercial Way, Fallon, NV 89406. 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT

Patricia Shutt, LPN, President

Mary Ann Lambert, MSN, RN, Vice President

Helen Vos, MSN, RN, Secretary

Doreen Begley, MS, RN, Member

David Burgio, MS, RN, APN, Member

Dorothy Perkins, CNA, Member

Joseph Cortez, Consumer Member

 

MEMBERS ABSENT

NONE

 

OTHERS PRESENT

Debra Scott, MS, RN, Executive Director

Chris Sansom, RN, Director of Operations

Fred Olmstead, General Counsel

Cindy Kimball, Information Officer (7/13/05 & 7/14/05)

Robert Buck, BSN, RN, Application Coordinator (7/14/05)

Dean Estes, Accountant/Technology Officer (7/13/05 & 7/14/05)

Kathleen Reynolds, Probation Coordinator (7/14/05)

Susan Culp, Sunshine Reporting, CCR343 (7/13/05)

Cindy Lee Brown, Sunshine Litigation, CCR486 (7/14/05)

 

CALL TO ORDER – 9:00 a.m.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.

 

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

It was moved and seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, identified as items: A.1, 2, A.4-6, 21.a, c, d, B.1, E.1 and F.1. MOTION CARRIED.

 

A.     BOARD GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

 

1.      Approval of minutes of Board Meeting, May 18-20, 2005. Accepted under the Consent Agenda

  1. Annual approval of authorization of executive director to act as Board agent for subpoenas) and authority to accept voluntary surrender of licenses/certificates, and as spokesperson for actions with other community groups or the media and in other routine business functions. Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

  2. Annual review of Code of Ethics, Board member roles and responsibilities, and Board function list:  The Board members made suggestions for revisions. F. Olmstead will check the Code of Federal Regulation to make sure the Board’s suggested language conforms to current regulations.  It was moved and seconded the Board accept the suggested revisions as discussed.  MOTION CARRIED.

  3. Annual adoption of Non-Discrimination Policy: Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

  4. Contract ratifications: Contract for database maintenance and upgrades with The McFarlane Group: Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

  5. Annual review of the Board of Nursing Mission Statement: Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

  6. Words from the Board President: P. Shutt expressed her appreciation for being elected to serve as Board President. She described the role of Board president as a major commitment, both time-consuming and rewarding. She discussed the importance of working closely with the executive director and participating in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing meetings and programs, especially those that help define the roles of president and executive director. She discussed how the role of the Board was to set policy and the role of the staff is to carry out that policy.

  7. Report from legislative liaison-Fred Hillerby: This item was continued until the September 2005 meeting.

  8. Preliminary review FY 04/05 financial statement: D. Estes presented a preliminary review of the FY 04/05 financial statement, noting it did not include information from June 2005. D. Estes responded to Board member questions.

  9. Final progress report on FY 04/05 Goals and Objectives: D. Scott reviewed the final progress report and responded to the Board member questions.

  10. Review, discussion and action on Board’s long-term goals: D. Scott opened the discussion of the Board’s long-term goals by discussing organizational changes and future plans.  P. Shutt led the discussion regarding each of the long-term goals set by the Board.  The Board suggested revisions.  It was moved and seconded the Board accept the suggested revisions as discussed.  MOTION CARRIED.

  11. Review statistics and trends:  Presentations by C. Sansom, R. Buck, and K. Reynolds.  A review of fiscal year 2004/2005 information was provided related to scope of practice questions, Practice (Discipline), Licensure and Certification, and Compliance.  The Board receives an average of approximately 90 scope of practice questions a month, two thirds of which are from registered nurses.  Disciplinary statistics indicate that approximately 25% of licensed nurse complaints and 18% of nursing assistant complaints received by the Board result in formal disciplinary action.  Fraudulent applications and applications with “Yes” answers remain fairly consistent with previous fiscal year numbers.  The numbers of active nurses and nursing assistants in the Board’s probation and monitoring programs have increased.

  12. Self-Assessment for Nonprofit Governing Boards: P. Shutt led the discussion and the Board discussed each item of self-assessment considering all responses and comments.

  13. Presentation on navigating the NSBN website:  C. Kimball gave the Board members a brief overview of navigating the Board’s website.

  14. Review, discussion and action regarding Travel policy and procedure: D. Scott introduced the agenda item. D. Estes reviewed the Board Salary and Travel Reimbursement Policy, explaining that it is based upon Nevada Revised Statutes and the State Administrative Manual. D. Estes responded to Board member questions.

  15. National Council State Boards of Nursing Direction to delegates for Delegate Assembly 2005:  Presented by D. Scott.  The primary delegates are D. Scott and M.A. Lambert. The alternates are D. Begley and P. Shutt.  Discussion ensued regarding the National Council of State Boards of Nursing section on delegation.

  16. Discussion and action regarding a hearing officer:  P. Shutt discussed commitment of Board members regarding attendance at lengthy hearings or alternative of having a hearing officer. F. Olmstead described the different ways a hearing officer could be used, from hiring a hearing officer to hear one case or all cases, from delegating little authority to great authority. Board members discussed the issue and considered alternatives and agreed to continue discussion of this issue in the future.

  17. Review, discussion and action regarding Board member officer election policy: D. Scott reviewed the policy and the Board members discussed it. The Board members suggested revising the policy to include a call for nominations from the floor and to change the dates of elections to September Board meeting. The revisions would change the term to begin November 1st each year, to reflect the time the Board member serves and to allow for president-elect to learn from the current president.  It was moved and seconded the Board accept the suggested revisions as discussed.  MOTION CARRIED.

  18. Update from Institute of Nursing Excellence:  This item was removed from the agenda.

  19. Review, discussion and action regarding employee evaluations revision: D. Estes presented a proposal revising the current evaluation and salary increase process.  D. Scott described philosophy behind revisions and responded to Board member questions. It was moved and seconded the Board accept the proposal as presented.  MOTION CARRIED.

  20. Annual approval of Board policy and procedure manuals:

                  a.  General Polices and Procedures: Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

                  b.  Employee Handbook: This item was continued until the September 2005 meeting.

                  c.  Disability Advisory Committee: Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

                  d.  Board Resource Manual: Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

 

B.     LICENSURE PROGRAMS:

  1. Annual adoption of NCLEX passing scores as determined by National Council as the official competency examination for licensure: Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

 

C.     CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS:

  1. Update on Thomson Prometric testing: Removed from the agenda.

 

D.    DISCIPLINE PROGRAMS

  1. Outcome of Board directed complaints: C. Sansom presented statistics to the Board regarding the outcome of Board directed investigations for fiscal year 2004/2005.

  2. Review, discussion and action regarding proposed revision of Yes Answer Policy: R. Buck presented information regarding the proposed revision of policy and procedure.  It was moved and seconded the Board approve the Yes Answer Policy as revised.  MOTION CARRIED.

  3. Review, discussion and action regarding revision of practicing without a license policy: C. Sansom presented information regarding the proposed revision of the policy and procedure.  It was moved and seconded the Board accept the Practicing Without a Current License/Certificate Policy with revisions as stated on the record.  MOTION CARRIED. 

  4. Formal administrative hearings

a.    Peterson, Theresa, CNA016616: Respondent was not present.  It was moved and seconded the Board grant a continuance of this matter to a future Board meeting.  MOTION CARRIED. 

  1. Special Action

b.   Makatz, Terri, application for temporary RN Refresher License:  Makoutz, Terri, Temporary RN Refresher License applicant:  Applicant was not present.  It was moved and seconded the Board grant a Temporary RN Refresher License. MOTION CARRIED. 

  1. General Counsel presentation on disciplinary, and hearing processes: F. Olmstead described disciplinary and hearing process and responded to Board member questions.

  2. Presentation of federal and state criminal history background check process:  F. Olmstead gave presentation of federal and state criminal history background check process.

E.     EDUCATION

1.      Annual Board approval of recognized accrediting bodies. This item was continued until the September 2005 meeting.

F.      NURSING PRACTICE

1.      Review, discussion and action regarding annual adoption of Board practice decisions. Accepted under the Consent Agenda.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 9:12 a.m. on July 15, 2005.

 

 

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