Board denies proposed consent order for APRN accused of inappropriate relationship with patient; members call for stronger sanctions

The Connecticut Nursing Board voted to deny a proposed consent order for advanced-practice registered nurse Justin W. Branham (petition numbers 2024-362 and 2025-180) after board members described allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a patient as egregious and urged stronger discipline. Allegations and evidence: Department attorney Anthony Nanny told the board that Branham, licensed as an APRN and RN, provided care to a patient and later communicated with that patient via the dating app Tinder and text messages in late 2023. The departmentalleged the relationship involved "inappropriate social and/or romantic" contact and breached professional boundaries; the consent order included a proposed reprimand and a $5,000 civil penalty and said Branham had taken coursework in professional boundaries. Board response: Several board members reacted strongly. Mary Dieteman and Lisa Freeman described the conduct as "blatantly egregious" and likened it to an abuse of power; one member said the license should be revoked. Sal called the conduct "appalling" and said the proposed penalty was insufficient. The board discussed that disciplinary authority permits higher penalties and suspension or revocation where warranted. Outcome and process: The board voted to deny the proposed consent order and instructed department counsel and respondent counsel to consult and return with a revised proposal; if the parties cannot reach a resolution acceptable to the board, the matter may proceed to a hearing. Speakers quoted in this item are listed in the speakers section below.