Ethics Reporting
CCI utilizes the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements to guide certificant behavior. Nurses holding any CCI certifications are expected to demonstrate safety, competency, and ethical behavior in compliance with applicable laws and rules.
Any person who has knowledge of conduct by a licensed nurse that may violate a nursing law or rule or related state or federal law may report the alleged violation to the Board of Nursing where the conduct occurred. Individual state BONs regulate and oversee nursing practice in the U.S. by enforcing the nursing laws of their state. BONs uphold their nurse practice acts and are charged with disciplining nurses who violate them.
Any member of the public can submit an alleged violation against a CCI certificant. CCI certificants are expected to follow CCI’s ethics, policy, and procedure requirements in addition to complying with the ANA Code of Ethics. If you are concerned that you, or someone else, may have violated one or more of CCI’s ethics requirements, you can report your issue of concern to CCI. At its discretion, CCI may itself initiate complaints and investigate actions based on information obtained by or known to CCI (e.g., a certificant has falsified application information or CCI learns of information from newspaper, internet, state nursing boards or other sources).
Any individual may submit information to CCI alleging a violation of one of the reasons listed below:
- determination that initial certification or certification renewal was improperly granted;
- falsification or mis-statement of information on any certification-related document;
- providing false or misleading information;
- misrepresentation regarding credentialing status;
- cheating or assisting others to cheat;
- causing, creating, or participating in an examination irregularity;
- assisting others to wrongfully obtain initial certification or to renew certification;
- violation of CCI policy or procedure;
- misuse of or misrepresentation with respect to the CCI credential.
In certain cases, CCI may refer complaints to the applicable state licensing board or other legal enforcement authority.
Processing a Report of an Alleged Ethical Violation by CCI Certificant
CCI takes all reasonable measures to ensure that any materials regarding a complaint or disciplinary action process are kept confidential and discloses only that information which is required to resolve the complaint. This information is disclosed only to designated staff, legal counsel, and/or other such authorities (e.g., state licensing boards, human resources personnel, etc.) whose role is deemed to be material to resolution. The information and materials related to the complaint may also be provided to the candidate or certificant who is the subject of the complaint if necessary to meet due process requirements.
Below are the are details and forms for submission of alleged ethical/disciplinary violations by a CCI Certificant and appealing of disciplinary consequences.
Upon receipt of a submission for an alleged ethical violation by a CCI certificant, the Compliance Team will gather factual information regarding the certificant and associated events. This information may include documentation submitted, internal communication records, internal audit records, and/or public information searches. The investigation process focuses on fact-finding, ensuring compliance with laws and policies, resolving appeals and reconsiderations, and improving organizational effectiveness and transparency.
If the allegation is determined to be substantiated, the Compliance Team will afford the certificant due process and notify and share the findings with the subject. The subject will be given the opportunity to submit a response, along with documentation. The Compliance Team will compile the findings and present them to the appropriate committee to review the facts, engage in discussion, and render a decision about consequences. When a determination is made, the Compliance Team will notify both the certificant and the Credentialing Team about the outcome.
All submissions, determinations, and documentation will be subject to CCI’s privacy policies and retained in accordance with CCI’s documentation retention policies. The Compliance Team will use information and documentation included in the submissions to continuously refine internal processes/procedures and public-facing information to further streamline the processes, enhance clarity, and close the feedback loop.
Alleged Ethical Violation by a CCI Certificant
CCI Certificants who have received consequences as part of a disciplinary violation have the opportunity to submit a one-time appeal regarding the determination. If the determination is appealed, an independent review committee, consisting of individuals who were not part of the initial determination, will review ethics (disciplinary) appeal submissions and render a determination. Determinations are made solely on the basis of material errors of any disciplinary action, or if CCI failed to follow published criteria, policies, or procedures during such process. Committee activities are limited to a review of the written record. The committee will not conduct a hearing and the rules of evidence, discover, etc. will not apply.
Disciplinary appeal submissions must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the determination. Decisions are final and may not be further appealed.
Appeal of Disciplinary Consequences
(All fields must be completed)
