Crossing the line: Sexual misconduct by nurses reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine nurse sexual-misconduct–related reports in the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and to compare them with reports for other types of offenses. Design and Population: We analyzed NPDB’s reports of adverse state nursing board licensure actions and malpractice payments for all nurses from January 1, 2003, to June 30, 2016. Results: Overall, 882 nurses had sexual-misconduct–related reports. Most were aged 35–54 (63.2%), male (63.2%), and registered or advanced practice nurses (61.5%). The disciplinary actions noted in the 988 nurse sexual-misconduct–related licensure reports were more frequently serious than those noted in the 207,023 reports for other offenses committed by nurses (90.8% vs. 74.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). Of the 33 nurses with sexual-misconduct–related malpractice-payment reports, 48.5% were not disciplined by any state board of nursing for these offenses. Three-quarters of the victims in the 47 sexual-misconduct–related malpractice-payment reports were female, with “emotional injury only” reported as the severity of injury in 91.5% of these reports. Conclusions: Very few nurses have been reported to the NPDB due to sexual misconduct. We welcome a zero-tolerance standard against sexual misconduct involving patients by all types of health care professionals, including nurses.