Court of Appeal Grants Protective Order in Favor of the Board of Registered Nursing and Upholds Patient Privacy Rights

By Kendra J. Muller Board of Registered Nursing v. Johnson & Johnson et al., Case No. 30-2014-00725287 (Super. Ct., Orange County). On May 21, 2014, in The People of the State of California v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al., the Continue reading

Nurses Contend with the Suspension of Regulatory Nurse-to-Patient Ratios

By Kendra J. Muller On December 11, 2020, and again on January 24, 2021, Heidi W. Steinecker, Deputy Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), announced a suspension of regulatory enforcement for hospitals that is valid until March Continue reading

AB 890 Allows Nurse Practitioners to Expand Their Scope of Practice Despite Medical Board of California’s Opposition

By Ellen Williams AB 890 (Wood), as amended August 28, 2020, amends sections 650.01, 805, and 805.5 of, and adds Article 8.5 (commencing with section 2837.100) to the Business and Professions Code to authorize a two-tiered framework for certified nurse Continue reading

Board of Registered Nursing Takes Action in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

By Kendra J. Muller Starting in August 2020, the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) took the following actions to address consumer protection and nursing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic: On August 11, 2020, BRN issued a news release stating Continue reading

Board of Registered Nursing Audit Report Released to the Public

By Kendra J. Muller On June 30, 2020, California State Auditor, Elaine M. Howle, released an investigative audit report finding that the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) delivered a falsified report in response to a 2016 audit concerning the number Continue reading

Board of Registered Nursing’s Executive Officer Resigns Amidst Sexual Harassment Allegations

By Shana Sobel On February 14, 2020, the Executive Officer (EO) of the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), Dr. Joseph Morris, officially resigned. Loretta Melby was sworn in as acting EO at the February 20, 2020 Board meeting.  The Sacramento Continue reading

Board of Registered Nursing Submits Progress Report to the Legislature Regarding Implementation of its Comprehensive Continuing Education Plan

By Shana Sobel On January 1, 2020, the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN or Board) submitted its progress report to the legislature on the Implementation of the Comprehensive Continuing Education Plan for Approving and Disapproving Continuing Education Opportunities. BRN submitted Continue reading

Bill Seeking to Allow Nurse Practitioners to Perform Services Without Physician Supervision Gains Momentum

By Shana Sobel AB 890 (Wood), as amended January 23, 2020, is a two-year bill that would add Article 8.5 (commencing with section 2837.100), and would repeal Section 2837.101, of the Business and Professions Code to authorize a nurse practitioner Continue reading