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

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Aug 10, 2011) - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN®) www.ncsbn.org inducted its fifth group of Fellows of the NCSBN Institute of Regulatory Excellence (IRE) on Aug. 4, 2011, during the NCSBN Annual Meeting and Delegate Assembly held in Indianapolis.

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 2011 class of Fellows includes:
Joan K. Bainer, MN, RN, NE, BC, FRE, Administrator, South Carolina State Board of Nursing
Linda D. Burhans, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, FRE, Board Staff, North Carolina Board of Nursing

The IRE is a series of educational conferences held annually with the following topics rotated on a four-year cycle: Public Protection/Role Development of Nursing Regulators, Discipline, Competency and Evaluation/Remediation Strategies, and Organizational Structure/Leadership and Management.

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.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose members include the boards of nursing 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 nine associate members.

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