Chapter 410-12 MANDATORY REPORTING

Rule 410-12-.01 Mandatory Reporting

A nurse shall report names of subject individuals to the Georgia Board of Nursing if the nurse has reasonable cause to believe that any other nurse has violated any of the grounds for discipline provided in paragraph (4) of this rule.

(a)	A nurse is not required to duplicate a report if he or she has reasonable cause to believe that such report has been made to the Board.

(b)	A licensed health care professional is not required to report a nurse to the Board under O.C.G.A. § 43-26-51 or this rule as a result of professional knowledge obtained in the course of the health care professional-patient relationship when the nurse is the patient.

(2)

Hospitals, nursing homes, temporary staffing agencies, and other employers of registered professional nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, or licensed practical nurses shall report to the to the Georgia Board of Nursing, or ensure that such report has in fact been made to the Board, the name of any nurse whose employment has been terminated or who has resigned in order to avoid termination for any reasons provided in paragraph (4) of this rule.

(3)

A state agency that licenses, registers, or certifies hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, or other types of health care facilities, or surveys one of these facilities or agencies, shall report to the Georgia Board of Nursing, or ensure that such report has in fact been made to the Board, when such state agency has evidence that a nurse has violated the provisions of paragraph (4) of this rule.

(4)

A nurse must be reported to the Board for the following conduct:

(a)	Practicing nursing as a registered professional nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse, without a valid, current license, except as otherwise permitted under Code Section 43-26-12 or 43-26-41, as applicable;

(b)	Practicing nursing as a registered professional nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse under cover of any diploma, license, or record illegally or fraudulently obtained, signed, or issued;

(c)	Practicing nursing as a registered professional nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse during the time the applicable license is suspended, revoked, surrendered, or administratively revoked for failure to renew;

(d)

Using any words, abbreviations, figures, letters, title, sign, card, or device implying that such person is a registered professional nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse unless such person is duly licensed or recognized by the applicable board to practice as such under the provisions of this chapter;

(e)	Fraudulently furnishing a license to practice nursing as a registered professional nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse;

(f)	Knowingly aiding or abetting any person in violating this chapter;

(g)

While holding a license as a nurse, convicted of any felony, crime involving moral turpitude, or crime violating a federal or state law relating to controlled substances or dangerous drugs in the courts of this state, any other state, territory, or country, or in the courts of the United States, including, but not limited to, a plea of nolo contendere entered to the charge; or

(h)

While holding a license as a nurse, currently or previously displaying an inability to practice nursing as a registered professional nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, a licensed undergraduate nurse, or a licensed practical nurse with reasonable skill and safety due to use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, or chemicals.

(i)	An error that contributed to a patient's death or serious harm.

(j)	A violation of the Board's Unprofessional Conduct Rule 410-10-.03

Rule 410-12-.02 Reporting of Minor Incidents

(1)

The Georgia Board of Nursing believes that the protection of the public is not enhanced by the reporting of every minor incident that may be a violation of the Georgia Nurse Practice Act or a Board rule. This is particularly true when there are mechanisms in place in the nurse's practice setting to identify nursing errors, detect patterns of practice, and take corrective action to remediate deficits in a nurse's judgment, knowledge, training, or skill. This rule is intended to provide guidance to nurses, nursing peer review committees and others in determining whether a nurse has engaged in conduct that indicates the nurse's continued practice would pose a risk of harm to patients or others and should be reported to the board.

(2)	A minor incident is defined by the Board as conduct by a nurse that may be a violation of the Nurse Practice Act or a Board rule but does not indicate the nurse's continued practice poses a risk of harm to a patient or another person.

(3)

When evaluating if conduct must be reported to the Board the following factors should be considered:

(a)

A nurse involved in a minor incident need not be reported to the Board unless the conduct indicates the nurse:

1.	Ignored a substantial risk that exposed a patient or other person to significant physical, emotional or financial harm or the potential for such harm;

2.	Lacked a conscientious approach to or accountability for his/her practice;

3.	Lacked the knowledge and competencies to make appropriate clinical judgments and such knowledge and competencies cannot be easily remediated; or

4.	Has engaged in a pattern of multiple minor incidents that demonstrate the nurse's continued practice would pose a risk of harm to patients or others.

(4)

Other factors that may be considered in determining whether a minor incident should be reported to the Board are:

(a)	The significance of the nurse's conduct in the particular practice setting; and

(b)	The presence of contributing or mitigating circumstances, including systems issues or factors beyond the nurse's control, in relation to the nurse's conduct.

(5)

When evaluating whether multiple incidents constitute grounds for reporting it is the responsibility of the nurse manager, supervisor or peer review committee to determine if the minor incidents indicate a pattern of practice that demonstrates the nurse's continued practice poses a risk and should be reported.

(6)	Regardless of the time frame or number of minor incidents, if a nurse manager or supervisor believes the minor incidents indicate a pattern of practice that poses a risk of harm that cannot be remediated, the nurse should be reported to the Board.

Chapter 410-12 MANDATORY REPORTING

Rule 410-12-.01 Mandatory Reporting

Rule 410-12-.02 Reporting of Minor Incidents

Rule 410-12-.03 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.04 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.05 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.06 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.07 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.08 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.09 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.10 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.11 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.12 [Repealed]

Rule 410-12-.13 Repealed

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