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MQA Q4 2015 - 2016
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Board of Nursing visits health care professionals at
Orlando Regional Medical Center
On June 28, Joe Baker Jr., executive director, and Jessica Hollingsworth, program
administrator, of the Florida Board of Nursing visited with nursing staff and other health
care professionals at Orlando Regional Medical Center to thank them for the care that
was provided to victims of the recent Pulse nightclub tragedy. It was a very moving two-
hour visit as they toured the emergency department and trauma unit and thanked the
staff on behalf of the Board. They also provided a preview of the upcoming cover of the
Florida Nursing Quarterly
which will acknowledge the efforts of health care professionals
following the tragic shootings.
RESPONSIVENESS
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MQA successfully completes CNA renewal cycle
On May 31, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) successfully completed the first biennial
renewal cycle in MQA’s upgraded licensing and renewal system. In order to assist CNAs
with renewal in the new system, staff in MQA’s Strategic Planning Services (SPS) Unit
and System Support Services (SSS) Unit worked together to significantly increase the
number of communications products specifically targeted for CNAs, including step-by-
step instructional emails, renewal video tutorials and live webinars. As a result of the
collaborative efforts of SPS and SSS staff, 69,604 (71%) CNAs successfully renewed by
the expiration date, which is a 20 percent increase from the previous biennial
renewal cycle.
MQA investigator commended by former licensee for her work in
impairment case
MQA Bureau of Enforcement Investigator Karen Sikes was commended by a former
licensee for her work in an impairment case. The licensee, a former pharmacy technician,
voluntarily surrendered her license after being caught stealing narcotics by her former
employer. The tech admitted to being addicted to controlled substances at the age of
25. While the employer opted to not press charges, an emergency suspension order
(ESO) was issued against the licensee. Ms. Sikes was able to have the subject voluntarily
relinquish her license. The licensee has since enrolled in a group therapy program and
began to turn her life around. In an email to Ms. Sikes’ supervisor, the licensee thanked
Ms. Sikes for her support and kindness throughout the process. The former licensee
stated that she considers Ms. Sikes to be a genuine asset to her recovery, and stated
“Ms. Sikes was a light when all I felt was darkness. I will never forget her.”