Nursing board grants two summary license suspensions, citing immediate danger

The Board of Examiners for Nursing voted July 15 to summarily suspend the licenses of two registered nurses after the Department of Public Health said the respondents posed a clear and immediate danger to patients.

At the meeting acting Chair Mary Dietman read the department’s request and Attorney Kataya summarized the allegations in petition 2026-434 involving a registered nurse identified in the record as Poppy/Pappy Bebo. Attorney Kataya said the department’s petition alleges that on or about Feb. 8, 2026, while working as a nursing supervisor the respondent failed to call emergency services when a resident was missing and later failed to call 911 or a physician when the resident was found in an altered state. "The department believes that respondents continued practice as a registered nurse presents a clear and immediate danger to the public health and safety and requests the Board summarily suspend his license until a full hearing on the merits can be held," Attorney Kataya told the board.

Cindy Arpin moved to grant the department’s motion for summary suspension and asked the matter be referred to a panel hearing; Sal Diaz seconded. The board discussed the seriousness of the allegations and voted in favor of the summary suspension, with Chair Dietman announcing the motion carried.

The board then considered petition 2025-882 involving Edwin Cardock. Attorney Kataya said Cardock was identified in the record as associated with nursing education at an unapproved program (the "Nightingale/Medlife" matter) and that permitting him to continue practice presented an immediate danger. Cindy Arpin moved to grant the department's motion; Lisa Freeman seconded. After brief discussion, the board voted to summarily suspend Cardock’s license as well.

Attorney Bannon told Cardock the board had voted to grant the department’s motion and advised that, under the applicable statutes, a hearing on the underlying statement of charges will be scheduled promptly (the office generally issues notices within about two weeks). The board did not decide final discipline at the meeting; the suspensions are temporary measures pending full hearings.

Actions recorded in the meeting minutes show the board moved immediately to schedule further proceedings and that the department will provide hearing notices to the respondents and ensure contact information is current.