The dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health at Nicholls became the newest member of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing on March 26. Governor Bobby Jindal appointed Sue Westbrook to the board, and Associate Justice John L. Weimer of the Louisiana Supreme Court swore her in for a term of four years.

“I’m really happy that I got appointed to the board,” Westbrook said. “I’ve never tried to do anything like this before, and the fact that I was appointed to do this is truly an honor. I am very humbled by it.”

The function of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing is to protect the welfare of the citizens of Louisiana by insuring that registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses are competent and safe. The board oversees licenses, nursing practice and nursing education.

Westbrook said any complaint that is filed by a patient, nurse or doctor comes to the board of nursing and is reviewed by the paid staff.

“I’m just a member, but the staff investigates these complaints and then reports it to the board members,” Westbrook said. “After the complaint is reviewed, the person involved has to come before the board.”

The board consists of at-large members and members from practice, education and law. Full board meetings are quarterly, but committee meetings are more frequent. Westbrook is on the education and compliance committee.

“We insure that all the nursing schools in the state follow the education standards that are put out by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing,” Westbrook said. “It’s not to insure excellence but to insure safety.”

Westbrook said the board also rules on whether or not procedures are in the nursing realm of practice. If a procedure is being performed under a physician’s supervision, the board will give its opinion as to whether or not it is nursing or medical practice. These rulings become regulation for practice.

Complaints can be submitted from any healthcare provider in Louisiana and any patient who received services including procedures done in private practice. Problems can include falsifying prescriptions, taking patient medications and other offenses.

“Every situation is unique and different. But they do a very important job, and the general public is probably not aware that someone actually has to look into these situations,” Westbrook said.

“It won’t impact what I do here at Nicholls. It will enhance what I do.