| OSBN Nurse Monitoring Program |
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| What Is It? |
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The Oregon State Board of Nursing's primary concern is the health and safety of the public. The Board believes alcoholism and drug addiction are primary, progressive and chronic diseases, and that the resulting problems, as well as problems stemming from mental health disorders or physical disabilities, may impair a nurse's ability to practice nursing safely.
The Nurse Monitoring Program (NMP) is a confidential five-year program that offers Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and advanced practice nurses suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, mental health disorders or physical disabilities an opportunity to seek treatment and perform monitored nursing duties without disciplinary action by the Board of Nursing.
The NMP is not a treatment program, nor a punishment. Rather, the program gives eligible nurses who are willing to have their practice monitored closely, the chance to maintain their licensure and livelihood while they seek treatment from an independent treatment program.
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| Who Can Participate? |
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The NMP is available only for Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and nurse practitioners.
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| Participation Is Confidential |
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Participation in the NMP is confidential and not a matter of public record. Only those in the nurse's employment setting who need to know, such as the nurse's immediate supervisor and/or facility human resources department, will be advised of a nurse's involvement in the program.
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| How Does It Work? |
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All nurses in the Nurse Monitoring Program must:
- participate in appropriate treatment for their problem,
- check-in regularly with the NMP staff,
- notify their employer of their participation in the program, and
- follow all other terms of the program.
The terms and conditions of the program are individualized according to each nurse's situation and needs. Each participant and her/his employer must sign a contract agreeing to the terms and conditions.
In cases of alcoholism and drug addiction, there is often a period immediately after a nurse enters treatment that she/he may not be able to work in a nursing role (two weeks to six months, depending on the specific situation).
NMP staff are in contact with the nurse's treatment counselor and/or care provider and determine the nurse's eligibility to work. When the nurse's treatment level allows her/him to perform nursing duties, the NMP staff works with the nurse to select an appropriate work setting where there is on-site supervision. As mentioned above, the nurse's employer must sign a contract agreeing to the terms and conditions.
Cost of treatment, screening tests or medications are the responsibility of the program participant.
The length of the program is five years.
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| Forms and Contracts |
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| What if A Nurse Fails the NMP? |
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NMP staff will refer program participants who fail to comply with the terms and conditions of the program to the Board's Compliance section for investigation and possible disciplinary action.
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