Reporting Obligations

Any person who has knowledge of any conduct by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse which may violate a nursing law or rule or related state or federal law may report, but is not required to report, the alleged violation to the Board of Nursing.

The Chief Nursing Executive or Chief Administrative Officer of any health care institution or organization in Minnesota is required to report:

• Disciplinary action taken by the institution or organization if action pertains to the Board's grounds for disciplinary action (see related content below) Minnesota Statutes Section 148.261.

• Resignation of a nurse before conclusion of any disciplinary proceeding or in lieu of discipline.

Note: Reporting and referral of the nurse to the Health Professionals Services Program in lieu of the Board fulfills this requirement. However, the employer may report to both entities.

Persons licensed by any Minnesota health regulatory board including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, nursing home administrators, psychologists, social workers, dentists, marriage and family therapists, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists and dietitians are required to report:

• Personal knowledge of a nurse's conduct reasonably believed to be grounds for disciplinary action by the Board.

Note: The reporting of professional knowledge obtained in the course of a health professional-client relationship when the client is a nurse and the health professional successfully counsels the nurse to limit or withdraw from practice to the extent required by the impairment is excluded from this requirement.

Insurers authorized to sell insurance and providing professional liability insurance to nurses are required to report:

• A nurse against whom a malpractice award was made or who was a party to a settlement.

• Information that the insurer possesses that tends to substantiate a charge that a nurse may have violated the nursing laws and rules.

Court Administrators of district, county, and state courts are required to report:

• Judgements or other determinations of the court that include a finding that a nurse is:
  • mentally ill or mentally incompetent,
  • chemically dependent,
  • a person dangerous to the public,
  • guilty of a felony or gross misdemeanor,
  • guilty of a violation of federal or state narcotics laws or a controlled substances act,
  • guilty of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, or
  • guilty of abuse or fraud under Medicare or Medicaid.

• Appointments of a guardian for a nurse.

• Commitments of a nurse to a mental health care facility.

The statutes and administrative rules pertaining to reporting obligations are located in Minnesota Statutes Section 148.263 and Minnesota Rules Part 6321.0500 .

The Board does not accept complaints by electronic mail at this time, but you may download the complaint form below. Please sign and date the form, attach any materials, and mail them to the address at the top of the form. (Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download and print the form.)

If you wish to discuss your reporting obligation send an e-mail message to complaints.nursing.board@state.mn.us .