NCSBN Inducts Its Seventh Group of Fellows of the NCSBN Institute of Regulatory Excellence

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Aug 20, 2013) - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN^®), www.ncsbn.org, inducted its seventh group of Fellows of the NCSBN Institute of Regulatory Excellence (IRE) during the NCSBN Annual Meeting and Delegate Assembly in Providence, R.I., Aug. 14-16, 2013. The IRE began in 2004 with the purpose of providing boards of nursing with high quality regulatory education, expanding the body of knowledge related to regulation through research and scholarly work, developing the capacity of regulators to become expert leaders, and developing a network of regulators who collaborate to improve regulatory practices and outcomes.

The 2013 class of Fellows includes:
Doreen Begley, MS, RN, FRE, former board member, Nevada State Board of Nursing
Jay Douglas, MSM, RN, CSAC, FRE, executive director, Virginia Board of Nursing
Jacinta MacKinnon, MN, RN, FRE, consultant, Registration Inquiry and Discipline, College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia
Kathleen Privette, MSN, RN, CNAA-BC, FRE, manager, Drug Monitoring Program, North Carolina Board of Nursing
Danielle Smith, MSN, RN, FRE, director of monitoring, Louisiana State Board of Nursing

The IRE Fellowship Program is a four-year comprehensive educational and professional development program designed for current regulators who want to enhance their knowledge of and leadership in nursing regulation. The program includes experiences in analyzing issues involving public policy and regulation, strategic planning, patient safety and communication. It also requires the application of evidence-based concepts in decision making and leadership.

Individuals who complete the Fellowship Program requirements are called a Fellow of the NCSBN Regulatory Excellence Institute (FRE) and are entitled to use the initials "FRE" after their name in recognition of their accomplishment.

Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 16 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 3 million licensed nurses, the second largest group of licensed professionals in the U.S.

Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900
Chicago, IL 60601-4277