Section 1300.65  Unethical or Unprofessional Conduct in Nursing Practice

a)         The Division may suspend or revoke a license, refuse to issue or renew a license or take other disciplinary action based upon its findings of "unethical or unprofessional conduct" within the meaning of Section 10-45 of the Act,  which is interpreted to include, but is not limited to, the following acts or practices:

1)         Engaging in conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public, or demonstrating a willful or careless disregard for the health, welfare, or safety of a patient.  Actual injury need not be established.

2)         A departure from or failure to conform to the standards of professional or practical nursing as set forth in the Act or this Part, or any nursing practice that may create unnecessary danger to a patient's life, health or safety. Actual injury to a patient need not be established.

3)         Engaging in behavior that crosses professional boundaries (such as signing wills or other documents not related to client health care).

4)         Engaging in sexual conduct with a patient, or conduct that may reasonably be interpreted by a patient as sexual, or in any verbal behavior that is seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient.

5)         Demonstrating actual or potential inability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals, or any other material, or as a result of any mental or physical condition.

6)         Failing to report incompetent, unethical, or illegal practice of another health care provider.

b)         The Division hereby incorporates by reference the "Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements", 1985, American Nurses Association, 600 Maryland Avenue, Suite 100 West, Washington, D.C. 20024-2561, with no later amendments or editions.

c)         The Division hereby incorporates by reference the "Code of Ethics", National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service, Inc., 1991, 1400 Spring Street, Suite 330, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, with no later amendments or editions.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 8582, effective April 21, 2006)