Connecticut nursing board grants three summary suspensions, approves a consent order; department cites immediate risk to public health

The Department of Public Health—oard voted to summarily suspend three nursing licenses and approved a consent order for a fourth nurse after department attorneys said each practitioner posed a clear and immediate danger to public health.

Board chair Gina Reiner opened the disciplinary portion of the meeting and reminded members of the statutory standard governing summary suspension: that a board may act "if [it] finds that a practitioner or permittee represents a clear and immediate danger to the public health and safety if he or she is allowed to continue to practice."

Attorney Joelle Newton, representing the department, told the board that Vivienne Doreen Crosdale, RN (petition 2024-288), had applied for licensure but the department received information from Florida College of Health Sciences indicating Crosdale lacked the required clinical training hours. "Because the respondent does not have the required program hours in clinical training necessary to obtain a nursing associate in science degree, she represents an immediate threat to the public health and safety," Newton said. The board voted to grant the department motion for summary suspension; the motion passed on roll call with board members voting aye.

Department attorney Anthony Nanny presented two additional cases. He said Yesenia Cruz, RN (petition 2024-1754), had been placed on a four-year probation in a prior consent order that required random chain-of-custody urine screens and a prohibition on unauthorized controlled substances and alcohol. The department alleges that Cruz abused alcohol on Sept. 19, 2024, and on Nov. 25, 2024, failed to submit to a requested urine screen, and that those violations make her continued practice dangerous. Nanny cited Connecticut General Statutes sections 4-182c and 19a-17c as the authority for summary suspension and asked the board to act. The board voted to grant the department motion for summary suspension.

Nanny also described the case of LPN Lori Alexowitz (petition 2024-1776), saying she had prior disciplinary matters and a consent order with a four-year probation that imposed narcotics restrictions, required regular urine screens, employer and therapy reports, and group therapy attendance. Nanny said Alexowitz missed at least 14 drug tests, tested positive for cocaine or its metabolites on four tests starting Sept. 29, 2024, and continued to practice after the department imposed a 45-day practice ban. The department moved to summarily suspend Alexowitz license; the board approved that motion on a roll-call vote.

The board also considered a consent order for Taylor R. Calmoni, RN (petition 2024-1588). Nanny summarized terms agreed by the nurse and the department: a four-year probationary period with urine-screening and reporting requirements, limits on home health, solo practice and travel nursing, and specified group therapy and attendance obligations. Board member Mary Dieteman moved to accept the consent order and the motion passed; one board member, Elizabeth, recorded an abstention.

The board actions were taken after department attorneys presented the factual bases and legal citations and after board members asked procedural clarifying questions. Several board members and the department attorneys emphasized the statutory standard for summary suspension and the need to include that language when making motions.

The board indicated suspended licenses and the consent order are subject to formal hearing procedures available under state law; effective dates and hearing schedules were not specified at the meeting.

Votes at a glance:

- Vivienne Doreen Crosdale, RN (petition 2024-288): Motion to grant Department of Public Health motion for summary suspension. Mover: Mary Dieteman. Second: Sal Diaz. Roll-call votes recorded as aye by present members; outcome: approved (summary suspension granted).

- Yesenia Cruz, RN (petition 2024-1754): Motion to grant Department of Public Health motion for summary suspension. Mover: Camille (surname not given). Second: Sal Diaz. Roll-call votes recorded as aye by present members; outcome: approved (summary suspension granted).

- Lori Alexowitz, LPN (petition 2024-1776): Motion to grant Department of Public Health motion for summary suspension. Mover: Sal Diaz. Second: Lisa Freeman. Roll-call votes recorded as aye by present members; outcome: approved (summary suspension granted).

- Taylor R. Calmoni, RN (petition 2024-1588): Motion to accept consent order imposing a four-year probation with specified testing, reporting and practice restrictions. Mover: Mary Dieteman. Second: Lisa Freeman. Vote: approved with one abstention (Elizabeth). Outcome: consent order approved; effective upon board approval per counsel.

The board recorded motions and roll-call tallies on the public record; the meeting packet included department investigative summaries and statutory citations.

The meeting record shows the board repeatedly instructed members to phrase motions to reflect the statutory "clear and immediate danger" standard for summary suspension, and assistant attorney Alina Bricklin Goldstein and department counsel provided procedural guidance for how motions should be framed and recorded.

No hearing dates or effective dates for the suspensions were announced during the meeting; the department said hearings and procedural steps would follow in accordance with statute.