Should RN's home address be posted on the BRN website?

[AnnemRN]

I just received the new issue of ANA's The Nursing Voice. It seems Senator Negrete McCloud has introduced legislation called SB111 that would require the California BRN to post all nurses addresses of record on their website.

It states the argument is - it is a consumer protection measure. "The California Medical Board was mandated to provide adresses of record a number of years ago." Unfortunately, "unlike physicians, nurses do not usually have offices to have as their address of record. Additionally, many nurses cannot get mail at their workplace. A nurse has the option of getting a P.O. box at their expense."

The ANA/C does not think this is fair or safe (I don't either). The ANA/C states " posting a home address of a nurse could be dangerous. We do not believe an irate or dysfunctional patient should be able to get our home address."

The ANA/C urges us to let our assemblyperson or Senator know how we feel about this measure. The bill will be heard in April or May.

[swede_girl726]

Apparently that part of the bill was removed (Yay! ). Here is the response I got when I emailed the senator responsible for this bill:

My name is Rufino Bautista, and I am a member of Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod's staff. I believe the actual bill number to which you are referring is SB 1111. I would also like to inform you that as of last week, the provision that requires the posting of a licensed nurses home address has been removed. If you have any other questions regarding this legislation, please don't hesitate to call our office at [phone] begin_of_the_skype_highlighting [phone] end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Respectfully,

Rufino M. Bautista, Jr.

Field Representative, Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod

[nursel56]

Good to see common sense prevail in Sacramento!! Now if common sense would prevail on every other lousy piece of legislation. . .:)

[rn/writer, RN]

Glad to hear that some wisdom has prevailed. But if it hadn't, it would have been interesting to find out how many legislators have their home addresses listed publicly. Hiding behind a government office doesn't count.

[caliotter3]

Glad to see that someone changed their mind about this ill-conceived idea.

[AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP]

I have a license as a midwife under the Medical Board... my address is posted out there for any wacko to come find me. They won't allow us to use a PO Box but we can use any residential or business address. I don't like it either.

[vegas2009]

I have a license as a midwife under the Medical Board... my address is posted out there for any wacko to come find me. They won't allow us to use a PO Box but we can use any residential or business address. I don't like it either.

Hey Apgar10,

Why fret? Can't you just give them the address to the nearest Sonic or KFC ... or even McDonald's? It's not like they're gonna check anyway. :)

[nursel56]

Yeah. . . I think if I could use any business address I'd put Wal-Mart. Oh, you can't? With a law like that, if I were forced to put my home address on a publicly accessible data base, I would be sorely tempted to be civilly disobedient. Too many crazies out there.

[AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP]

If I put in any random address, how would I get my new license every 2 years? Or board notices? I need to know what's happening in my profession...

[AnnemRN]

I finally got an email from allnurses today saying I had received a response to this thread I started. I was really surprised to see it had received many responses and want to thank you all.

The day I received "The Nursing Voice" publication from the ANA, I immediately emailed a letter to my state representatives: Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Diane Feinstein and Congressman Dennis Cardoza to let them know my feelings about this bill.

I'm so glad this bill is no longer an issue.

[nursel56]

Apgar10-- Yes, you're right. I didn't realize your mailing address had to be the same as the publicly posted address. I had assumed since in your state your Midwife license was under the Medical Board, and the OP said the doctors in her state are allowed to use their hospital or practice address, they could still receive Board correspondence at home.

[sasyone]

You may want to contact the Board of Nursing whether it is the RN or LVN Boards. Last I heard, if someone wanted to by the mailing list of licensee's, they would get your address. If that is the answer, I'd get a PO Box. With the Board of Nursing, they can fine you if you do not give them a current viable address within 30 days. (it was on the paper you received with your first license). It's for enforcement issues in case there is a complaint filed.

[vegas2009]

This bill is actually the first I've heard of (allowing the posting of personal addresses of nurses). I guess California nurses need to look for gated communities, then?