Several other blogs have also reported in on this story, which is really quite remarkable when you think about it. Most times, bureaucrats never get caught with their pants down.

The Wall Street Journal Health Blog has a short story about this, as does The healthcareblog.

But I haven’t seen any feedback yet from the California Nurses Association. I’m curious about their views on this. Can go either way with them!

Well, not in THAT sense. But Governor Arnold has cleaned house at the California Board of Registered Nursing. I can’t say that I have any sad feelings about it. BORNs exist simply to keep themselves in business, and have been a major obstacle to simplifying and improving licensing–like having one database in the US for all registered nurses and one license.

I have fortunately, had to have little dealings with them. But again, they exist to collect money to pay their salaries, and do as little work as possible. For example, in CA, it cost the same extravagant fee to keep a license active or inactive. Really fair, huh.

They have also been known to tack on extra diddies for people applying for CA licenses. A friend of mine who graduated from an accredited nursing school, had an RN license in good standing, and several years experience, was told that they couldn’t issue her a license because she lacked “sociology 101.” Like not having the basic soc course had interfered with her work thus far, and having to return to school to take this basic class was going to benefit California.

Anyway, here’s what the LA Times has to say:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced most members of the state Board of Registered Nursing on Monday, citing the unacceptable time it takes to discipline nurses accused of egregious misconduct.

He fired three of six sitting board members — including President Susanne Phillips — in two-paragraph letters curtly thanking them for their service. Another member resigned Sunday. Late Monday, the governor’s administration released a list of replacements.

The shake-up came a day after The Times and the nonprofit news organization ProPublica published an investigation finding that it takes the board, which oversees 350,000 licensees, an average of three years and five months to investigate and close complaints against nurses.

During that time, nurses accused of wrongdoing are free to practice — often with spotless records — and move from hospital to hospital. Potential employers are unaware of the risks, and patients have been harmed as a result.

Three and a half years to investigate a complaint? Pray tell, what the hell are they doing all day? There are not all that many complaints, and they have little else to do–in fact, their main reason for being is to investigate complaints and discipline wayward nurses.

Good for you Arnold. Maybe a shake-up might get them off their butts and make the CA BORN a viable institution.