| SUMMARY OF: | A Sunset Review of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Board of Nursing |
Why DLA Performed This Audit
The audit’s purpose was to determine if there is a need for the board’s continued existence and whether its termination date should be extended. The board is set to sunset June 30, 2019, and will have one year from that date to conclude its administrative operations.
Report Conclusions
Overall, the audit concluded the board served the public’s interest by conducting meetings in accordance with State laws, amending certain regulations to improve the nurse and CNA occupations, and effectively licensing nurses and CNAs. The audit also concluded that the board failed to serve the public’s interest by not adequately regulating the distance delivery of nursing services through technology, not adequately monitoring CNA training programs, and not notifying the appropriate entities when a licensee’s prescriptive authority was suspended, revoked, or surrendered. In addition, the audit found improvements were needed in the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing’s (DCBPL) investigative process.
In accordance with AS 08.03.010(c)(14) the board is scheduled to terminate June 30, 2019. We recommend the legislature extend the board’s termination date six years to June 30, 2025, which is two years less than the eight year maximum allowed per statute. The reduced extension is mainly due to the failure of the board to regulate the distance delivery of nursing services through technology and the board’s re-approval of CNA training programs without adequate review. Additionally, the board failed to address three of the four prior sunset audit recommendations.
Findings and Recommendations
- The board should adopt regulations to address the distance delivery of nursing services through technology.
- The board should take steps to ensure the appropriate entities are notified when a licensee’s prescriptive authority is suspended, revoked, or surrendered.
- The DCBPL chief investigator should ensure nurse investigations are adequately documented and performed timely.
- The board chair should take steps to ensure the required certified nursing aid (CNA) on-site training program reviews and self-evaluations are conducted prior to reapproving the programs.