Is a Decree of Censure from The Arizona Nursing Board Public?
So, Is a decree of censure from the Arizona nursing board public?
Yes, a decree of censure is considered formal discipline, and the Board reports it to NURSYS (the national database verifying nurse licensure). So, a decree of censure would always show up if an employer were to verify your license on NURSYS.
Links of Interest:
- Can a Nurse Continue to Work if Suspended by the Arizona Nursing Board?
- Arizona Compact Nursing License (Is AZ a COMPACT State?)
What is a Decree of Censure?
A decree of censure is the lowest level of formal discipline. There are no probationary requirements, but the Order will be listed on NURSYS forever. Under current Arizona Board of Nursing (“Board”) laws, one cannot remove past discipline from NURSYS (the national database for verification of nurse licensure).
In 2018, the Board moved license verification from the Board’s website to NURSYS. Previous Board policy removed all disciplinary actions from a nurse’s record after five years.
Disciplinary Actions Imposed by the Arizona Board of Nursing
- Revocation
- Suspension
- Voluntary Surrender
- Probation (Consent Agreement)
- Civil Penalty
- Decree of Censure
Two Options for Discipline Case Removal
Per Nursys rules, there are effectively only two ways for a discipline case to be removed or deleted from the database:
- Board Error: If discipline has been attached to your license by error, the Board can correct this and delete the incorrect report.
- Expungement of Case: Arizona Board of Nursing does not offer past disciplinary case expungement. There would need to be a change in Arizona law for this to become an option.
Letter of Concern
So, Is a Letter of Concern from the Arizona Board of Nursing Public?
Yes and No. A letter of concern is not considered formal discipline and is not reported to NURSYS (the national database verifying nurse licensure). So, a letter of concern would never show up if an employer were to verify your license on NURSYS.
What is a Letter of Concern?
The Arizona Board of Nursing sends a letter of concern to the nurse when that nurse’s conduct is not ideal. However, the behavior does not necessarily violate the Nurse Practice Act.
Remember, a letter of concern is subject to Arizona Public Records Law. If someone were to request a nurse’s disciplinary or non-disciplinary history specifically, the Board would be required to provide it. However, that scenario would be extremely rare and should not cause concern for the nurse.
Protect Your Nursing Career After a Decree of Censure
For direct legal help, contact us today or see our Nursing License Defense Attorney page.