The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) investigates claims or allegations made against a nurse’s professional conduct by a member of the public. A report from the Department of Justice can also trigger an investigation if you have legal issues, such as being convicted for a crime.
Here is what you should expect if your nursing license is under investigation by the board.
The investigation process
Once the board receives a complaint, a determination will be made if the board has jurisdiction to investigate whether there is a violation of nursing rules and regulations.
Once that is ascertained, an investigator will be assigned to your case. Their role is to collect relevant evidence from witness interviews, reviews or audits and report the facts to the board fairly and impartially. You will also be informed that you are under investigation unless such prior notice will interfere with the inquiry.
The investigation process of a complaint depends on several factors, such as its seriousness and timeliness. Other agencies such as law enforcement may be roped into these investigations when necessary.
How should you respond to an investigation?
Fortunately, you have a chance to respond to any allegations made against you in a nursing license investigation.
The first thing you should do after receiving notice that your nursing license is under investigation is get legal representation. It will help you understand the nature of these complaints and the best way of responding to them since your license and career may be on the line.
Investigations take time to conduct and conclude. Within that time, you may be required to respond to board inquiries that will assist the process. Your responses and any statements you make might affect the outcome of these investigations and determine the direction of your case.
