What initiates an investigation by the college into alleged nurse misconduct?

• A. A complaint about professional misconduct
• B. A routine performance review conducted annually
• C. A mandate from a patient for a formal inquiry
• D. A random sample audit of practices

Answer: (A)

An investigation into alleged nurse misconduct starts when a formal complaint about professional misconduct is filed. That complaint triggers the college to review the claim, gather evidence, and determine whether there’s enough basis to open a formal inquiry. Routine performance reviews are ongoing quality checks and don’t initiate investigations into misconduct. A patient can raise concerns, but an investigation isn’t started simply by a patient’s demand unless there’s a formal complaint describing misconduct. Random audits look for general compliance patterns and aren’t directed at a specific alleged misconduct, so they don’t initiate a targeted investigation either.