Board of Registered Nursing executive officer reports review of intervention program work requirements; committee approves minutes and 2026 schedule

The Intervention Evaluation Committee of the California Board of Registered Nursing heard an update Oct. 8 from Loretta Melby, the board's executive officer, on recent reviews of requests that intervention program participants be allowed to work in direct patient care or to handle narcotics, and on requests to extend participation beyond three years.

Melby said the board in August moved to suspend imposition of requirements that participants work in direct patient care or pass narcotics-handling duties "unless there's additional evidence of patient safety." She told committee members she has reviewed recommendations referred from IECs since that motion and is checking for evidence supporting any requests that would alter the board's suspension.

"My goal is not to overturn the motion. My goal is not to change the motion, but to simply review that we have evidence there to support to those requests," Melby said.

Melby reported she reviewed 56 IEC recommendations tied to (1) requiring participants to work in direct patient care, (2) requiring participants to pass…