Any person who is aggrieved by the conduct of a nurse may complain to the Board.

This may be the employer, nurse colleagues, other health professionals or a member of the community.

The Board investigates complaints only after a written complaint has been lodged with the Chief Executive Officer, see Professional Conduct Information.

A complaint may be made and dealt with even though the person who is the subject of the complaint has ceased to be a registered or enrolled nurse or was suspended at the time of the matter complained of.

Complaints are referred to the Health Complaints Commissioner initially, who in turn refers them back to the Board, if the complaint contains issues which fall within the jurisdiction of the Nursing Board.

The Board must investigate each complaint made to it. The Board on its own motion may also investigate any matter that it considers could be grounds for complaint against a registered or enrolled nurse.

Following investigation the Board may refer the complaint to the Professional Review Tribunal or require the nurse (in a matter that may not be sufficiently serious enough to warrant a Tribunal hearing) to appear before the Board to give an explanation of the matter, or provide the Board with a written explanation.

The Board must dismiss a complaint if it considers the complaint is without foundation, frivolous, vexatious or the matter complained of is unsubstantial.

These procedures ensure all complaints are taken seriously, and processed in a fair and transparent manner in the interests of the patient/client, the public and the nurses themselves.

The Board has the power to suspend a registration, cancel it, and impose conditions on a registration such as further education, supervised practise, ongoing assessment of competence or counselling.

For more information see Professional Conduct Information
.

For more information about Professional Conduct Statistics or case studies, please see pages 8-13 of the 2002/2003 Annual Report.