Apparently, a scathing article in the Los Angeles Times can produce results. Yesterday, we told you that an in-depth investigation by The Times and an independent research organization concluded that bad nurses were being left on the job despite repeated reports of their misconduct.
Today, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has responded to the report, just about cleaning out the roster of existing members of the state Board of Registered Nursing. Schwarzenegger's list of firings included President Suzanne Phillips. All were fired with a two-paragraph letter thanking them for their efforts. Another board member had previously resigned.
The change of management came a day after The Times and its research partner published a damning report concluding that it takes the board an average of three years and five months to investigate and conclude complaints against nurses, leaving patients open to nurses who may be neglectful, incompetent or even violent.
To learn more about this issue:
- read this Los Angeles Times piece [1]
Related Articles:
CA nursing board leaves dangerous nurses on the job [2]
Minnesota ranks last when disciplining doctors, Public Citizen says [3]
Doctor disciplinary actions up a hair in '08, but serious actions lower [4]
State med board disciplinary action numbers fall again [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nursing-board14-2009jul14,0,5570676.story
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/ca-nursing-board-leaves-dangerous-nurses-job/2009-07-13
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/minnesota-ranks-last-when-disciplining-doctors-public-citizen-says/2009-04-21
[4] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/md-disciplinary-actions-bit-08/2009-04-17?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FH0
[5] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/state-med-board-disciplinary-action-numbers-fall-again/2008-04-18