TITLE 54

PROFESSIONS, VOCATIONS, AND BUSINESSES

CHAPTER 14

NURSES

54-1413.  Disciplinary action. (1) Grounds for discipline. The board shall have the power to refuse to issue, renew or reinstate a license issued pursuant to this chapter and may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, limit, restrict, condition or take other disciplinary action against the licensee as it deems proper, upon a determination by the board that the licensee engaged in conduct constituting any one (1) of the following grounds:

(a)  Made, or caused to be made, a false, fraudulent or forged statement or representation in procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice nursing;

(b)  Practiced nursing under a false or assumed name;

(c)  Is convicted of or enters a guilty plea for a crime deemed relevant in accordance with section 67-9411(1), Idaho Code;

(d)  Is or has been grossly negligent or reckless in performing nursing functions;

(e)  Habitually uses alcoholic beverages or drugs as defined by rule;

(f)  Is physically or mentally unfit to practice nursing;

(g)  Violates the provisions of this chapter or rules and standards of conduct and practice as may be adopted by the board;

(h)  Otherwise engages in conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or endanger patients or the public, which includes, but is not limited to, failing or refusing to report criminal conduct or other conduct by a licensee that endangers patients;

(i)  Has been disciplined by a nursing regulatory authority in any jurisdiction. A certified copy of the order entered by the jurisdiction shall be prima facie evidence of such discipline;

(j)  Failure to comply with the terms of any board order, negotiated settlement or probationary agreement of the board or to pay fines or costs assessed in a prior disciplinary proceeding;

(k)  Engaging in conduct with a patient that is sexual, sexually exploitative, sexually demeaning or may reasonably be interpreted as sexual, sexually exploitative or sexually demeaning; or engaging in conduct with a former patient that is sexually exploitative or may reasonably be interpreted as sexually exploitative. It would not be a violation under this subsection for a nurse to continue a sexual relationship with a spouse or individual of majority if a consensual sexual relationship existed prior to the establishment of the nurse-patient relationship; or

(l)  Failure to comply with the requirements of the abortion complications reporting act, chapter 95, title 39, Idaho Code.

(2)  Separate offense. Each day an individual violates any of the provisions of this chapter or rules and standards of conduct and practice as may be adopted by the board shall constitute a separate offense.

(3)  Proceedings.

(a)  The executive director shall conduct such investigations and initiate such proceedings as necessary to ensure compliance with this section. The board may accept the voluntary surrender of a license from any nurse under investigation and accordingly enter an order revoking or suspending such license and/or imposing such conditions, limitations, or restrictions on the practice of any such nurse as may be appropriate in the discretion of the board. Otherwise, every person subject to disciplinary proceedings shall be afforded an opportunity for hearing after reasonable notice. All proceedings hereunder shall be in accordance with chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code.

(b)  Hearings shall be conducted by the board or by persons appointed by the board to conduct hearings and receive evidence. The board and any person duly appointed by the board to conduct hearings shall have all powers as are necessary and incident to the orderly and effective receipt of evidence including, but not limited to, the power to administer oaths and to compel by subpoena attendance of witnesses and production of books, records and things at the hearing or at a deposition taken by a party in accordance with the Idaho rules of civil procedure. Any party shall be entitled to the use of subpoena upon application therefor.

(c)  In the event any person fails to comply with a subpoena personally served upon him or refuses to testify to any matter regarding which he may be lawfully interrogated, the board shall petition the district court in the county where such failure or refusal occurred, or where such person resides, to enforce such subpoena or compel such testimony. Proceedings before the district court shall be for contempt in the same nature as contempt of court for failure or refusal to comply with an order of the court, and the court shall have the same powers to secure compliance with subpoena and testimony or to impose penalties as in contempt of court proceedings.

(d)  The assessment of costs and attorney’s fees incurred in the investigation and prosecution or defense of an administrative proceeding against a licensee under this chapter shall be governed by the provisions of section 12-117(5), Idaho Code.

(4)  Probation/subsequent review. Any order of the board entered under this section may be withheld or suspended for a probationary period to be fixed by the board upon such terms and conditions as may be appropriate in order to regulate, monitor and/or supervise the practice of nursing by the licensee subject to such order for the prescribed probationary period. Any order of the board entered under this section may be withdrawn, reversed, modified or amended upon a showing by the person subject to the order that the grounds for discipline no longer exist or that he is rehabilitated, qualified and competent to practice nursing and that he is not likely to violate this chapter or rules adopted hereunder in the future.

(5)  Reporting investigative information.

(a)  Nothing in section 74-106(8) and (9), Idaho Code, shall be construed as limiting the authority of the board to report current significant investigative information to the coordinated licensure information system for transmission to states that are parties to any multistate agreements or compacts regarding nurse licensure.

(b)  The executive director of the board may, in the administration of this chapter, share information and otherwise cooperate with government regulatory and law enforcement agencies.

History:

[(54-1413) 54-1412, added 1977, ch. 132, sec. 2, p. 285; am. 1984, ch. 57, sec. 5, p. 104; am. and redesig. 1998, ch. 118, sec. 10, p. 443; am. 2001, ch. 76, sec. 2, p. 185; am. 2002, ch. 80, sec. 7, p. 181; am. 2008, ch. 67, sec. 2, p. 173; am. 2013, ch. 208, sec. 1, p. 496; am. 2014, ch. 139, sec. 1, p. 377; am. 2015, ch. 141, sec. 138, p. 484; am. 2018, ch. 225, sec. 2, p. 514; am. 2018, ch. 348, sec. 5, p. 801; am. 2020, ch. 175, sec. 20, p. 522; am. 2021, ch. 34, sec. 1, p. 76.]