Public Complaint Submission Process
The North Carolina Board of Nursing regulates the practice of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and advanced practice nurses in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare. The Nursing Practice Act is the body of the law that authorizes the Board to accomplish this.
The majority of nurses are competent and caring individuals who provide a satisfactory level of care. However, when a problem is experienced with a nurse and you believe that the nurse’s performance may be a violation of the Nursing Practice Act, you are required to submit a complaint to the Board of Nursing. Board staff will then handle the complaint in accordance with the Nursing Practice Act, Rules promulgated by the Board, policies and guidelines to determine if an actual violation has occurred.
Nursing Practice Act (North Carolina General Statute) N.C.G.S. 90-171.47 states: Reports: immunity from suit. – Any person who has reasonable cause to suspect misconduct or incapacity of a licensee or who has reasonable cause to suspect that any person is in violation of this Article, including those actions specified in G.S. 90-171.37 (1) through (8), G.S. 90-171.43 and G.S. 90-171.44, shall report the relevant facts to the Board. Upon receipt of such charge or upon its own initiative, the Board may give notice of an administrative hearing or may, after diligent investigation, dismiss unfounded charges. Any person making a report pursuant to this section shall be immune from any criminal prosecution or civil liability resulting there from unless such person knew the report was false or acted in reckless disregard of whether the report was false. |
Revocation, discipline, suspension, probation or denial of license is addressed in the Nursing Practice Act, General Statute 90-171.37 and in the Administrative Code (Rule) 21 NCAC 36.0217