Board of Registered Nursing- Enforcement, Investigations and Intervention Committee Meeting 5/13/26

Meeting Summary

The California Board of Registered Nursing’s Enforcement, Investigations and Intervention Committee met on May 13, 2026. The committee approved the minutes from its February 11 meeting, authorizing staff to correct non-substantive errors.

Public Comment

Michelle Monsanto Ramos of Consumer Watchdog raised concerns that complainants and their families receive too little information about complaint status and how to submit additional evidence during an investigation. The chair directed the public to the Board’s website, which lists enforcement leadership and staff contact information.

Enforcement Update

Public complaints continue to rise, with staff projecting an approximately 13% increase for the fiscal year. The added workload is being managed with existing staff, though caseloads are increasing. Staff attributed a rise in citations mainly to continuing-education audits and the return of a dedicated staff member to that work.

The division is continuing a national pilot on substance-use-disorder monitoring and reviewing feedback from nurse-support-group facilitators. It is also recruiting expert practice consultants across multiple specialties. Probation training videos and presentations are complete and expected to be posted soon.

The Attorney General’s office will now prepare probation-surrender stipulations, while Board staff will continue handling communication and processing. Committee members also noted improved investigation and post-Attorney-General processing times, which staff attributed to closer case monitoring and efforts to move cases efficiently.

Investigations Update

The division is mapping its current workflows, with the goal of completing the “as-is” maps by August 2026 before developing proposed improvements. A DCA Enforcement Academy launched in March, with Board staff contributing training materials and presentations.

A pilot allowing analysts to handle certain less-complex preliminary cases has concluded. Staff said it worked effectively and are working to make the process permanent. Investigators averaged 28 active cases, below the 30-case cap, and the division is recruiting for two investigator positions. It also anticipates establishing eight additional positions as of July 1, pending budget approval.

Staff explained that some cases once referred to the Division of Investigation are now retained by the Board under complaint-prioritization guidelines. As a result, shifts in case counts do not necessarily mean fewer serious complaints are being investigated.

Intervention Program

Staff reported ongoing work with vendor Premier Health Group, including weekly coordination and continued portal improvements. The number of intervention referrals has fallen. Staff cited transition-related outreach gaps and changes in how the program was explained to potential participants. They plan to increase outreach and clarify that intervention is a confidential, non-disciplinary option.

The committee was told that intervention evaluation committees (IECs) now meet six times a year. However, vacancies—two physician members, two registered nurses, and one public member—have contributed to quorum problems and three canceled meetings in the first quarter. The Board reassigned members from IEC 11 to other committees to help address vacancies.

Education for Intervention Committees and Vendor

Executive Officer Loretta Melby reported training on conditional recommendations, flexibility for participants without a substance-use disorder, and work approvals and restrictions. Staff clarified that the three-year sobriety requirement does not apply to participants whose cases involve mental health alone.

Training for Premier’s case managers is intended to support participants returning to work as soon as safely possible, using appropriate monitoring and restrictions.

Meeting Housekeeping

At the close, staff said the day’s Legislative Committee meeting was canceled because of time constraints. Its four bills would be moved to the full Board meeting. The Nurse Practice Committee was scheduled to begin later that afternoon.

Presenters and Contributors

• Patricia Wynn — Committee chair
• David Lawler and Alison Cormack — Committee members
• Tim Buncher — Enforcement Division update
• Nicole Boles — Investigations Division update
• Jaspreet Pabla — Intervention program update
• Loretta Melby — Intervention committee education report and meeting housekeeping
• Michelle Monsanto Ramos — Public commenter, Consumer Watchdog
• Board meeting moderator — Managed teleconference and public comment procedures; name not identified