The Times’ June 12 expose about the California Board of Registered Nursing oversimplifies the issue. The so-called problem with nurses is really just another aspect of the shortcomings in the overall healthcare system. I have been a nurse for more than 30 years. Although I don’t work in clinical settings now, I’m in them regularly — at nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and acute-care hospitals. I am not excusing the horrible mistakes made by nurses who gave multiple doses of the same medications or did not properly inform physicians of the medications they were providing, per the physicians’ orders. There are standards of practice for dealing with the administration of medications, which all nurses and physicians should follow to the letter. But the problem is far more complex. First, the Board of Registered Nursing had staffing problems. Until last week, three of its nine positions were vacant (the governor filled two of those vacancies). In addition, prior to last week, three of the board’s members were not practicing nurses. I am glad to see that since The Times published its story on July 12, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed to the board nurses from several fields. I hope the […]