The Minnesota Board of Nursing's licensing and disciplinary processes will come under scrutiny during a joint hearing next week of the state Senate and House health and human services committees.
The hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 13, follows a continuing Star Tribune investigation of the state's regulation of nursing licenses that began Oct. 6 and continued Sunday. Dozens of nurses who have committed misconduct ranging from neglect and maltreatment of patients to stealing drugs to practicing while impaired have kept their licenses, the newspaper found.
Last month, key lawmakers announced their intention to hold the hearing. Sen. Kathy Sheran, the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Policy Committee, said legislators will hear testimony from Nursing Board Director Shirley Brekken, as well as Jerry Kerber, the inspector general for the Department of Human Services.
