The Compliance Section of the Consumer Protection Branch monitors licensees that have been placed on probation with the Kentucky Board of Nursing or are participating in the Kentucky Alternative Recovery Effort (KARE) for Nurses Program.
Individuals who are being monitored are required to comply with all provisions of their Board order or KARE Program agreement. Failure to comply with these provisions may result in a suspended license or denial of reinstatement of the license.
Once the terms and conditions of the Board order or KARE Program agreement has been successfully completed, the license is restored without restrictions.
KARE for Nurses Program
The Kentucky Alternative Recovery Effort (KARE) for Nurses program was developed and is offered by the Kentucky Board of Nursing. The purpose of the KARE for Nurses Program is to identify nurses whose abilities to provide nursing care are compromised by a Substance Use Disorder, and to assist these nurses so that they can return to competent and safe practice.
The KARE for Nurses Program is a non-disciplinary, theraputic monitoring program that offers an opportunity for education, treatment and recovery for at nurse with a Substance Use Disorder. Participants must meet the eligibility criteria and voluntarily enter into a KARE Program agreement with the program.
The program recognizes that nurses are individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping others and are now in need of help. The foundation of the KARE for Nurses Program is that substance abuse disorder is treatable and that the recovery and return of competent nursing practice is in the best interest of the nurse and public health.
The KARE for Nurses Program believes that a nurse should not lose a job or license due to substance abuse disorder and offers an opportunity for encouragement, treatment and recovery. The program emphasizes hope and is administered with compassion, confidentiality, concern and dignity for the nurse.
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Probationary Monitoring
KBN has taken disciplinary action by placing the licensees on a monitoring status for a period of time.
A license can be placed on probation for the following violations:
- Substance abuse or dependence
- Diverting narcotics from facilities or patients
- Positive urine drug screen(s)
- Practice concerns
- Patient abandoment or neglect
- Medication or documentation errors
- Practicing outside of the scope of the license
- Falsification of timesheets to the employer
- Unlawful delegation
- Unprofessional behavior
- License disciplined by another professional licensing agency
A license can also be placed on probation for criminal convictions(s) such as the following:
- Drug related
- Alcohol related
- Conviction(s) that is placed on probation by the court involving fraud, deceit, falsification of records, breach of trust, physical harm or endangerment, or dishonesty
Some of the terms that a probationer has to comply with may be the following:
- Be employed as a nurse for the probationary period
- Meet with a KBN staff member at designated intervals
- Submit to random alcohol/drug screens
- Have written reports submitted to KBN by his/her counselor, employer, or therapist
- Supervision or observation of practice
- Supervision or observation of administering controlled substances or other medications