A profile of disciplined nurses in Tennessee 1990-1992

Concern about the abuse of nursing standards in Tennessee by licensed nursing personnel served as a basis for this descriptive research. The purpose of the study was to describe the types and extent of disciplinary actions of licensed nurses by the Tennessee State Board of Nursing during the years from 1990 through 1992. The characteristics of these nurses as well as the actions taken against them were surveyed. A census of 331 licensed and practical nurses who appeared before the Tennessee State Board of Nursing for nursing violations comprised the sample. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses were represented in the sample. The instrument was based on the Disciplinary Report Form of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and was modified and developed further for relevance to Tennessee. Findings included a basically equal number of RNs (51.2 percent) and LPNs (49.8 percent) being disciplined during the three year period. It was found that the typical nurse violator who was disciplined is a white, 35.37 year-old, female RN who violated the Nurse Practice Act in the western, urban region of Tennessee in Shelby County or Davidson County or in the eastern, urban area in Knox County. The educational level of the violator represented an associate degree. The typical violator had held nursing license for 9.62 years. The typical nurse violator had previous disciplinary action in the area of drug abuse and drug diversion. Demerol was the drug most often abused, followed by alcohol. The disciplinary action most often taken by the State Board of Nursing for violations was probation. It is recommended that an educational effort incorporating the incidence and prevalence of the problem be put forth through the written and spoken media. It is also recommended that employers take additional measures to help monitor the profession to reduce the problem and provide further safety to patients.