November/December 2005 Bulletin

2005 in Brief Review

It was the best of times and it was the worst of times…Charles Dickens' immortal words are often quoted for any number of reasons. For the staff at the Maine State Board of Nursing, 2005 has been such a year. Normally, you would have received two prior publications by now; this issue is the only one you will receive for the year 2005.

R.I.P. In April, 2005, Rodney E. Carl, Accountant I for the Maine State Board of Nursing was killed in an automobile accident. Rodney held this position for two years and was as the "youngest brother" to our small staff. We were shocked and saddened at the loss. The position remained vacant due to elimination of the classification in state government and could not be filled until reclassification of the position itself was accomplished. In late September, 2005, we were once again at full staff.

Relocation In late August, 2005 the Board moved its office to 161 Capitol Street, Augusta. We are now co-located with the Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Dental Examiners, the Board of Osteopathic Licensure and the Atlantic Salmon Commission. We are pleased with our new space. Our phone numbers, fax number,
e-mails, and mailing address remain the same.

New Licensing System By the time you receive this Bulletin, we will have converted from our old IBM Mainframe licensing system to our new system. The advantage to you is that we will be able to capture more than one address in a licensee's record. This means that if you choose, we can send communications from the Board to your business address or other designated address. We CANNOT have two different "Contact At" addresses. You must decide where you want mail sent. Should you use a post office box for mail, your residential address will be maintained on another screen, unknown to the public.

ONLINE RENEWALS At the same time that we convert systems, our online renewal capability should be available. You may visit www.maine.gov/bon to renew your RN or LPN license online using either a Visa or MasterCard. The renewal fee ($40.00) remains the same. You will no longer be receiving paper application forms for renewal of licensure. Instead, you will receive a postcard notifying you that your license is due to expire. If you choose to renew by paper - or if the online feature will not allow you to renew online - then you must return the postcard to the Board office to receive a paper application.

POSTCARD A copy of the postcard is printed below so that you may be on the lookout for it in your mail. We are excited about offering this new feature to Maine-licensed nurses.

RENEWAL POSTCARD

Highlights from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's Annual Meeting

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) held its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. in August, 2005.

Synopsis of Significant Actions by the NCSBN Delegate Assembly

(From the NCSBN website - for further information visit http://www.ncsbn.org)

• Election of new Area Directors and Directors-at-Large to the Board of Directors.
• Adoption of the Delegation Position Paper Working with Others: Delegation and Other Health Care Interfaces for use by member boards.
• Adoption of the Model Act and Rules For Delegation and Nursing Assistant Regulatory Model for use by member boards.
• Adoption of the Position Paper Nursing Education Clinical Instruction In Prelicensure Nursing Programs for use by member boards.
• Adoption of the Model Process for Criminal Background Checks and the supporting Concept Paper Using Criminal Background Checks to Inform Licensure Decision Making for use by member boards.
• Resolution that NCSBN conduct a job analysis, develop a model medication administration curriculum and conduct a feasibility study for administering a competency examination for medication assistive personnel. The results of the job analysis, course and feasibility study shall be reported at the 2006 Delegate Assembly.
• Resolution that NCSBN generate and publish an unambiguous public position statement indicating that nursing regulation and the interpretation of nursing scopes of practice shall be officially interpreted and explained by state nursing regulators.
  

Martha Bursinger, Executive Director of the South Carolina Board of Nursing was elected as Area 3 Director to the Board of Directors; Rolf T. Olson, Public Member of the Oregon Board of Nursing was elected to the Area I Director position; Mary Blubaugh, Executive Director of the Kansas Board of Nursing and Myra A. Broadway, Executive Director of the Maine State Board of Nursing were reelected as Areas 2 and 4 Directors, respectively. Constance Kalanek ( Executive Director, North Dakota Board of Nursing) and Faith Fields (Executive Director, Arkansas Board of Nursing) were elected as Directors-At-Large.. Continuing Board members are: Donna Dorsey (Maryland Board of Nursing) as President; Polly Johnson (North Carolina Board of Nursing) as Vice-President and Sandra Evans (Idaho Board of Nursing) as Treasurer.

In Appreciation

The Board extends sincere appreciation to Jody L. Deegan, who served on the Board from March, 2000 through March, 2005 and to Charyl Doughty, LPN, who served on the Board from August, 2002 through October, 2005. Jody's and Charyl's commitment and dedication to the public welfare greatly enhanced the work of the Board.

Board Appointments

In March, 2005, Dorothy Melanson, RN, was appointed to the Board of Nursing by Governor Baldacci. She fills the vacancy reserved for a registered professional nurse who is active in nursing service. Dottie works per diem in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

In October, 2005. Susan Brume, LPN, was appointed to the Board of Nursing by Governor Baldacci. She fills the vacancy reserved for a licensed practical nurse. Susan works in the Orthopedics, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Trauma Unit at Maine Medical Center in Portland. .

For information on how to become a Board member, you are invited to look at the July, 2003 edition of the Maine State Board of Nursing Bulletin on its web site at: www.maine.gov/boardofnursing.

IMPORTANT APRN UPDATE

As of January 1, 2006, a master's degree in nursing is required for an individual seeking approval to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in Maine. This requirement was established by rule ten years ago to allow individuals to plan accordingly. Individuals who are ALREADY approved to practice as an APRN in Maine are not affected.

ATTENTION

Please contact the Board office if you have in your employ or know the whereabouts of the following licensee: Theresa M. Burnes, LPN; last known address was in Sun Lakes, AZ,

NCLEX®-RN "FIRST TIME" TEST TAKERS PASS RATES
For the year October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005

When reviewing statistics, keep in mind absolute numbers as well as percentages. (Percentages for smaller absolute numbers can vary widely.)

Practical Nurses: For the year October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005 -15 first time candidates educated in Maine wrote the NCLEX®-PN examination and 14 passed, a 93.33% pass rate.

Disciplinary Action

Licensees fined from 12/14/2004 - 10/21/05 for practicing during lapsed license Status: 78

Complaints Dismissed from 12/10/2004 - 09/29/05: 93

In this section, disciplinary actions are reported as a matter of public information. What may or may not be known to the reader is the reason for the particular action. Sometimes actions are taken for: incompetence; criminal conviction(s); fraudulently obtaining a license or renewal of license (i.e. lying on the application); unprofessional conduct such as practicing beyond one's scope, inaccurate recording, falsifying documentation, violating confidentiality of information, failing to follow policies and procedures in the practice situation designed to safeguard the patient, diverting drugs supplies or property of patients or health care provider, practicing nursing when unfit to perform procedures and make decisions in accordance with the license held because of physical, psychological or mental impediment (please see Chapter 4 under Rules on the Board's web site at http://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing ).