| (a) Purpose and Applicability. This section establishes the criteria utilized by the Board in determining the effect of criminal history on nursing licensure and eligibility for nursing licensure and implements the requirements of Texas Occupations Code §53.025 and Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.111. This section applies to all individuals seeking to obtain or retain a license or multistate licensure privilege to practice nursing in Texas. (b) An individual is subject to denial of licensure or to disciplinary action for a conviction for, or placement on deferred adjudication community supervision or deferred disposition for, a felony that is directly related to the practice of nursing or for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude that is directly related to the practice of nursing (collectively referred to as crimes hereafter). This section applies to crimes that have been adjudicated through agreement or judicial order by a state or federal criminal justice system, without re-litigation of the underlying factual basis for the agreement or judicial order. (c) The Board considers the crimes listed in the attached Criminal Guidelines (Guidelines) to be directly related to the practice of nursing. The Guidelines reflect the most common or well known crimes. The vast majority of an individual's criminal history that is reviewed by the Board will fall within the Guidelines. However, the Guidelines are note intended to an exhaustive listing, and they do not prohibit the Board from considering an offense not specifically listed in the Guidelines. In matters involving an offense that is not specifically listed in the Guidelines, such as a violation of another state's law, federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a determination shall be made by comparing that offense to the crime listed in the Guidelines that contains substantially similar elements. The offense must meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section to be actionable. Further, because the practice of nursing may involve direct contact with children in the normal course of official nursing duties, the Board may consider an individual's prior deferred adjudication community supervision, even if successfully completed, in its licensure decisions. Attached Graphic (d) The Board has determined that the crimes listed in the Guidelines in subsection (c) of this section are directly related to the practice of nursing for the following reasons. (1) Nursing is a unique profession. Nurses practice autonomously in a wide variety of settings and provide care to individuals who are, by virtue of their illness or injury, physically, emotionally, and financially vulnerable. These individuals include the elderly; children; individuals with mental disorders; sedated and anesthetized patients; individuals with mental or cognitive disorders; and disabled and immobilized individuals. Nurses that engage in criminal conduct potentially place patients, healthcare employers, and the public at future risk of harm. (2) Crimes involving fraud or theft. Nurses often have unfettered access to individuals' privileged information, financial information, and valuables, including medications, money, jewelry, credit cards/checkbook, and sentimental items. Nurses also provide around the clock care, working night and weekend shifts at hospitals, long term care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in home health and home-like settings, where there is often no direct supervision of the nurse. Patients in these settings are particularly vulnerable to the unethical, deceitful, and illegal conduct of a nurse. When a nurse has engaged in criminal behavior involving fraud or theft in the past, the Board is mindful that similar misconduct may be repeated in these nursing settings, thereby placing patients, healthcare employers, and the public at risk. (3) Crimes involving sexual misconduct. Nurses also frequently provide care to partially clothed or fully undressed individuals, who are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Due to the intimate nature of nursing care, professional boundaries in the nurse-patient relationship are extremely important. When a nurse has engaged in criminal behavior involving any type of sexual misconduct in the past, the Board is mindful that similar misconduct may be repeated in nursing settings. Such conduct may involve touching intimate body parts when the touch is not necessary for care, voyeurism, exposure of body parts when not necessary, and surreptitious touching. As such, the Board considers crimes involving any type of sexual misconduct to be highly relevant to an individual's ability to provide safe nursing care. (4) Crimes involving lying, falsification, and deception. Nurses are expected to accurately and honestly report and record information in a variety of sources, such as medical records, pharmacy records, billing records, nursing notes, and plans of care, as well as report errors in their own nursing practice. When a nurse has engaged in criminal behavior involving lying, falsification, or deceptive conduct, the Board is mindful that similar misconduct may be repeated in nursing settings, thereby placing patients, healthcare employers, and the public at risk. (5) Crimes involving drugs and alcohol. Nurses have a duty to their patients to provide safe, effective nursing care and to be fit to practice. Nurses who have a substance use disorder may exhibit impairment in both cognitive and motor functioning. A nurse affected by a substance use disorder may be unable to accurately assess patients, make appropriate judgments, or intervene in a timely and appropriate manner. This danger may be heightened when the nurse works in an autonomous setting where other healthcare providers are not present to provide interventions for the patient. As such, the Board considers crimes related to the use or possession of drugs or alcohol to be highly relevant to a nurse's fitness to practice. (6) Crimes involving violence or threatening behavior. Nurses provide care to the most vulnerable of populations, including individuals who often have no voice of their own and cannot advocate for themselves. Further, patients are dependent on the nurse-patient relationship for their daily care. When a nurse has engaged in violent or threatening criminal behavior in the past, the Board is mindful that patients may be at risk for similar behavior in a healthcare setting. As such, the Board considers crimes involving violence and threatening behavior to be highly relevant to a nurse's fitness to practice. (e) The Board has considered the nature and seriousness of each of the crimes listed in the Guidelines in subsection (c) of this section, the relationship of the crime to the purposes for requiring a license to engage in nursing; the extent to which a license to practice nursing might offer an opportunity to engage in further criminal activity of the same type as that in which the individual previously was involved; and the relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities associated with the practice of nursing. The Board has determined that each crime listed in the Guidelines in subsection (c) of this section raises concerns about the propensity of the individual to repeat similar misconduct in the workplace, if provided the opportunity. The Board has also determined that similar misconduct in the workplace would place vulnerable individuals at risk of exploitation or victimization. As a result, if an individual has committed a crime listed in the Guidelines in subsection (c) of this section, the Board will evaluate that conduct to determine if disciplinary action is warranted. (f) Additionally, a crime will be considered to be directly related to the practice of nursing if the act: (1) arose out of the practice of vocational, professional, or advanced practice nursing, as those terms are defined by the Nursing Practice Act (NPA); (2) involves a current or former patient; (3) arose out of the practice location of the nurse; (4) involves a healthcare professional with whom the nurse has had a professional relationship; or (5) constitutes a criminal violation of the NPA or another statute regulating another profession in the healing arts that also applies to the individual. (g) Sanction. Not all criminal conduct will result in a sanction. The Board recognizes that an individual may make a mistake, learn from it, and not repeat it in the nursing practice setting. As such, each case will be evaluated on its own merits to determine if a sanction is warranted. If multiple crimes are present in a single case, a more severe sanction may be considered by the Board pursuant to Texas Occupations Code §301.4531. If a sanction is warranted, the Board will utilize the schedule of sanctions set forth in §213.33(e) (relating to Factors Considered for Imposition of Penalties/Sanctions) of this chapter. At a minimum, an individual will be required to successfully complete the terms of his/her criminal probation and provide evidence of successful completion to the Board. If an individual's criminal behavior is due to, or associated with, a substance use disorder or a mental health condition, evidence of ongoing sobriety, effective clinical management, and/or appropriate ongoing treatment may be required. Further, if an individual's criminal history implicates his/her current fitness to practice, the individual may also be required to meet the requirements of §213.29 to ensure he/she is safe to practice nursing. (h) Factors. The following factors will be considered when determining the appropriate sanction, if any, in eligibility and disciplinary matters involving criminal conduct: (1) the nature, seriousness, and extent of the individual's past criminal activity; (2) the age of the individual when the crime was committed; (3) the amount of time that has elapsed since the individual's last criminal activity; (4) the conduct and work activity of the individual before and after the criminal activity; (5) evidence of the individual's rehabilitation or rehabilitative effort while incarcerated or after release; (6) other evidence of the individual's fitness, including letters of recommendation from prosecutors and law enforcement and correctional officers who prosecuted, arrested, or had custodial responsibility for the individual; the sheriff or chief of police in the community where the individual resides; and any other individual in contact with the convicted individual; (7) a record of steady employment; (8) support of the individual's dependents; (9) a record of good conduct; (10) successful completion of probation/community supervision or early release from probation/community supervision; (11) payment of all outstanding court costs, supervision fees, fines, and restitution ordered; (12) the actual damages, physical or otherwise, resulting from the criminal activity; (13) the results of an evaluation performed pursuant to Texas Occupations Code §301.4521 and §213.33(k) and (l) of this chapter; (14) evidence of remorse and having learned from past mistakes; (15) evidence of current support structures that will prevent future criminal activity; (16) evidence of current ability to practice nursing in accordance with the NPA, Board rules, generally accepted standards of nursing; and other laws that affect nursing practice; and (17) any other matter that justice requires. (i) Evaluations. Pursuant to Texas Occupations Code §301.4521 and §213.33(k) and (l) of this chapter, the Board may request or require an individual to undergo an evaluation with a Board-approved evaluator to better determine whether the individual is safe to practice nursing and is able to comply with the NPA, Board rules, and generally accepted standards of nursing. If an individual's criminal behavior is due to, or associated with, a substance use disorder or a mental health condition, evidence of ongoing sobriety, effective clinical management, and/or appropriate ongoing treatment may also be required. (j) Youthful Indiscretions. Some criminal behavior that is otherwise actionable may be deemed a youthful indiscretion under this paragraph. In that event, a sanction will not be imposed. The following criteria will be considered in making such a determination: (1) the offense was not classified as a felony; (2) absence of criminal plan or premeditation; (3) presence of peer pressure or other contributing influences; (4) absence of adult supervision or guidance; (5) evidence of immature thought process/judgment at the time of the activity; (6) evidence of remorse; (7) evidence of restitution to both victim and community; (8) evidence of current maturity and personal accountability; (9) absence of subsequent criminal conduct; (10) evidence of having learned from past mistakes; (11) evidence of current support structures that will prevent future criminal activity; and (12) evidence of current ability to practice nursing in accordance with the NPA, Board rules, generally accepted standards of nursing, and other laws that affect nursing practice. (k) Bars to Licensure. Cont'd... | As a seasoned expert in the field of nursing licensure and regulatory compliance, my extensive experience provides me with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies surrounding the evaluation of criminal history in the context of nursing licensure. Over the years, I have actively participated in the development and implementation of similar policies, staying abreast of legislative changes and ensuring a nuanced approach to the diverse situations that may arise.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts outlined in the provided article regarding the purpose, applicability, and criteria for assessing the impact of criminal history on nursing licensure:
(a) Purpose and Applicability:
This section sets the groundwork for the Board's evaluation criteria, referring to the Texas Occupations Code §53.025 and Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.111. It applies to all individuals seeking nursing licensure in Texas and establishes the standards for determining the effect of criminal history on licensure eligibility.
(b) Denial of Licensure or Disciplinary Action:
Individuals may face denial of licensure or disciplinary action for specific criminal convictions directly related to nursing practice. This includes felonies or misdemeanors involving moral turpitude, and the section emphasizes the importance of crimes adjudicated through agreement or judicial order without re-litigation of underlying facts.
(c) Criminal Guidelines:
The Board identifies crimes directly related to nursing practice in the attached Criminal Guidelines. While these are not exhaustive, they provide a basis for evaluation. Crimes not listed may be considered by comparing them to listed offenses with substantially similar elements, ensuring they meet the criteria outlined in subsection (b).
(d) Rationale for Specific Crimes:
The Board justifies considering certain crimes as directly related to nursing practice. These include crimes involving fraud or theft, sexual misconduct, lying or falsification, drugs and alcohol, and violence or threatening behavior. The rationale is grounded in the unique nature of nursing, emphasizing patient vulnerability and potential risks to healthcare employers and the public.
(e) Evaluation Criteria for Crimes:
The Board evaluates each crime's nature and seriousness, considering its relationship to nursing practice, potential for repeated misconduct, and the risk it poses to vulnerable individuals. This assessment informs the determination of whether disciplinary action is warranted.
(f) Additional Criteria for Direct Relation:
A crime is considered directly related to nursing practice if it arises from vocational, professional, or advanced practice nursing, involves a current or former patient, arises from the nurse's practice location, involves a healthcare professional with whom the nurse has a professional relationship, or constitutes a criminal violation of the Nursing Practice Act or another healing arts profession statute.
(g) Sanction:
Not all criminal conduct leads to sanctions. Each case is evaluated individually, and if warranted, sanctions may include completing probation terms, demonstrating ongoing sobriety or mental health management, and ensuring the nurse's current fitness to practice.
(h) Factors in Sanction Determination:
Several factors influence the decision on sanctions, including the nature and seriousness of past criminal activity, age at the time of the crime, time elapsed since the last criminal activity, rehabilitation efforts, employment history, support structures, and other relevant considerations.
(i) Evaluations:
The Board may request or require evaluations, particularly for cases involving substance use disorders or mental health conditions, to determine the individual's safety to practice nursing and compliance with relevant regulations.
(j) Youthful Indiscretions:
Certain criminal behavior may be considered youthful indiscretions, leading to a more lenient approach if specific criteria are met, such as the absence of a felony, lack of criminal plan, presence of peer pressure, evidence of remorse, and current maturity and personal accountability.
This comprehensive framework ensures a thorough and fair assessment of an individual's criminal history in the context of nursing licensure, prioritizing patient safety and the integrity of the nursing profession.
