Report 2016-046 Recommendation 19 Responses

Report 2016-046: Board of Registered Nursing: Significant Delays and Inadequate Oversight of the Complaint Resolution Process Have Allowed Some Nurses Who May Pose a Risk to Patient Safety to Continue Practicing (Release Date: December 2016)

Recommendation #19 To: Registered Nursing, Board of

To ensure that its enforcement unit employees appropriately address and process complaints in a consistent and efficient manner, by March 2017, BRN should develop a process to centrally track the internal and external trainings its staff participate in. On a regular basis, managers should review this information to ensure enforcement staff are participating in a timely manner in appropriate trainings that address the enforcement activities they specifically perform and the types of complaints they may investigate.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2018

BRN developed a process to centrally track the internal and external trainings its staff participate in. BRN managers review the training information regularly to ensure enforcement staff are participating in appropriate trainings that address enforcement activities they specifically perform and types of complaints they may investigate in a timely manner.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

BRN developed a process to centrally track the internal and external trainings its staff participate in, as well as a process for managers to regularly review this information to ensure enforcement staff are participating in a timely manner in appropriate trainings that address the enforcement activities they specifically perform and the types of complaints they may investigate.

1-Year Agency Response

BRN developed a process to centrally track the internal and external trainings its staff participate in. BRN managers review the training information regularly to ensure enforcement staff are participating in appropriate trainings that address enforcements activities they specifically perform and types of complaints they may investigate in a timely manner.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

Although BRN claims it has fully implemented this recommendation, it did not provide evidence demonstrating that it has. Until it does so, we will continue to assess the status of this recommendation as pending.

6-Month Agency Response

Managers were given data from SOLID training solutions which outline all training records for BRN Staff. BRN created a centralized database to track existing and future training data for staff. This database is updated on an ongoing basis by the supervisors as training is completed.

Management Monitoring Plans have been updated to include staff training plans by classification.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

Although BRN developed a database to centrally track internal and external trainings its enforcement staff have taken, it has not developed a process to ensure that managers regularly review that information to ensure enforcement staff are participating in appropriate trainings that address the enforcement activities they specifically perform and the types of complaints they may investigate.

60-Day Agency Response

Data from SOLID training solutions which outlines all training records for BRN Staff was obtained and customized for all areas of BRN to centrally track all internal and external trainings of staff participation.

Management monitoring plans have been updated to include minimum training requirements for all levels of enforcement staff. Managers will review and evaluate on an annual basis, or as needed, all trainings that have been completed by staff as well as any identified additional training related to types of complaints and investigations.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

Although BRN developed a listing of internal and external trainings its enforcement staff have taken, it has not developed a process to centrally track the internal and external trainings or to ensure that managers review that information to ensure enforcement staff are participating in appropriate trainings that address the enforcement activities they specifically perform and the types of complaints they may investigate.

All Recommendations in 2016-046

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.