These minutes have not been approved by the board

Call to Order
These minutes have been approved by the board
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE
BOARD OF NURSING
July 14, 2011
Crystal Higgins called the meeting of the Nebraska Board of Nursing to order at 8:30 a.m. on
July 14, 2011 at the Gold’s Building, Room 531, 1055 N Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. Copies of
the agenda were sent to Board members, news media and other interested persons, and posted.
Roll Call
Members present:
Crystal Higgins, RN, President
Linda Lazure, RN
Francie McNeil, RN
Lori Smith, RN
Janet Andrew, LPN-C
Nancy Gondringer, RN (arrived at 11:45 a.m.)
Anthony LaRiche, Public Member
Karen Weidner, RN
Wendy McCarty, Public Member
Member absent:
Kathi Yost
A quorum of the board was present and the meeting convened. Location of the copy of the Open
Meetings Act was announced. Also present from the Licensure Unit were Sheila Exstrom, RN,
Nursing Education Consultant; Karen Bowen, RN, Practice Consultant; Diana Baker, RN, Office
Administrator; Ruth Schuldt, RN, Compliance Monitor. Present from the Attorney’s General
office was Lisa Anderson, Assistant Attorney General. Teresa Hampton, Legal Division, joined
the meeting at 2:10 p.m.
Present from the Investigations Division were Peggy Persell, RN; Kristi Chapman, RN; Sue
Rydberg, RN; Janeen Berg, RN; and Pat Lemke, RN. Dennis Scott was introduced to the Board
as a new investigator; however he will not be doing any nursing cases.
The Board welcomed the new public member, Wendy McCarty, to the meeting. Introductions
were made and Wendy told the group about her background.
Review of the Agenda
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The board members reviewed the agenda.
1. Weidner made the motion, seconded by McNeil that the board adopt the agenda as
amended.
Voting Aye: Andrew, LaRiche, Lazure, McNeil, Smith, and Weidner. Abstain: Higgins.
Absent: Gondringer and Yost. Motion carries.
Adoption of Consent Agenda
2. LaRiche made the motion, seconded by Smith that the board adopt the consent agenda
and approve the minutes with additions of the June 9, 2011 Board meeting.
Voting Aye: Andrew, LaRiche, Lazure, McNeil, Smith, and Weidner. Abstain: Higgins.
Absent: Gondringer and Yost. Motion carries.
Closed Session
3. Weidner made the motion, seconded by Smith that the board go into closed session for the
purpose of discussing investigative reports, initial applications, and reinstatement
reports.
Voting Aye: Andrew, LaRiche, Lazure, McNeil, Smith, and Weidner. Abstain: Higgins.
Absent: Gondringer and Yost. Motion carries.
8:40 a.m. The board went into closed session
9:06 a.m. Lazure and McNeil left the meeting
9:30 a.m. Lazure and McNeil returned to the meeting
10:00 a.m. The board recessed for a break
10:15 a.m. The board resumed the meeting in closed session
10:44 a.m. Weidner left the meeting
10:54 a.m. Weidner returned to the meeting
11:45 a.m. Gondringer joined the meeting
11:54 a.m. Lazure left the meeting
12:05 a.m. Lazure returned to the meeting
12:07 p.m. Andrew left the meeting
12:10 p.m. Andrew returned to the meeting
12:19 p.m. The Board recessed for Lunch
12:53 p.m. The Board resumed the meeting in closed session
12:53 p.m. Weidner left the meeting
1:06 p.m. Weidner returned to the meeting
1:17 p.m. Exstrom left the meeting
1:25 p.m. Exstrom returned to the meeting
2:30 p.m. The Board went into open session
2:40 p.m. McCarty left the meeting
Licensure
Based on discussion held in closed session, the board made the following
decisions/recommendations:
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Jacqueline Fisher
4. McNeil made the motion, seconded by Gondringer that the board recommend the denial
of the reinstatement of the LPN license to Jacqueline Fisher due to the failure to comply
with treatment recommendations including maintaining a sponsor, failure to complete
an aftercare program and for misdemeanor and felony convictions.
Voting Aye: Andrew, Gondringer, Lazure, McCarty, McNeil, Smith, and Weidner. Nay:
LaRiche. Abstain: Higgins. Absent: Yost. Motion carries.
Pamela Dickey
5. Weidner made the motion, seconded by Smith that the board recommend the issuance of a
temporary permit for Pamela Dickey for the purpose of taking the LPN refresher
course with clinical component. Upon successful completion of the LPN refresher
course, issue an unrestricted LPN license.
Voting Aye: Andrew, Gondringer, LaRiche, Lazure, McCarty, McNeil, Smith, and Weidner.
Abstain: Higgins. Absent: Yost. Motion carries.
Holly Rustman Weckwerth
6. LaRiche made the motion, seconded by McCarty that the board request a prereinstatement
investigation of Holly Rustman Weckwerth be conducted in order to
make a better informed decision about her licensure.
Voting Aye: Andrew, Gondringer, LaRiche, Lazure, McCarty, McNeil, Smith, and Weidner.
Abstain: Higgins. Absent: Yost. Motion carries.
Communications
Exstrom reported to the Board that Iris Winkelhake is unable to continue with her appointment to
the Center for Nursing Foundation Board due to personal reasons.
7. Weidner made the motion, seconded by Smith that Tony LaRiche replace Iris Winkelhake
as the Nebraska Board of Nursing member on the Center for Nursing Foundation
Board.
Voting Aye: Andrew, Gondringer, Lazure, McNeil, Smith, and Weidner. Abstain: Higgins and
LaRiche. Absent: Yost and McCarty. Motion carries.
Higgins reported that she met with the Board of Health by invitation on June 20, 2011. She
reported to them that the Nursing Board has a high level of time commitment because of the long
Board meeting, extra Committee meetings held every other month, and the increasing number of
complaints being made to investigations. She explained to them the importance of board staff
being allowed to attend meetings with the NCSBN and how valuable that attendance is to the
Board. She indicated to them that hearing cases are being held more quickly and that
investigations are going well.
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Conclusion and Adjournment
The board members reported that the review of discipline cases went well although they seem to
be getting more complex. There was a good exchange among the group regarding cases
The Annual Delegates Assembly meeting of the NCSBN will be held on August 3-5, 2011 in
Indianapolis, IN. Three board members and two board staff will be attending.
The next board meeting will be held on August 11, 2011 at the Gold’s building in room 531.
The Gold’s building is located at 1050 N Street; Lincoln NE 68509.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________
Diana Baker, MSN, RN, Recorder
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