Licensed Nurses Disciplined in Oregon Between September 1996 and June 2008

This study is undertaken to better identify the types of errors being made by nurses in Oregon, to have a more thorough understanding of who is making the errors, and to examine how the Board is sanctioning nurses through Board (Board of Nursing) discipline. Results show that older nurses, and a disproportionately high number of male nurses, are being disciplined. RNs tend to be disciplined more for substance abuse and LPNs for substandard or inadequate care or for unprofessional conduct. RNs tend to be reprimanded more often than other licensure types, and LPNs receive more licensure suspensions. It may be helpful for administrators and nurse managers to use the information for staff education and development decisions. It may also inform Oregon nursing regulators, charged with protecting the public, when developing strategies aimed at ensuring equity and consistency in Board actions.