Reporting Colleague Misconduct in Advanced Practice Nursing

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) experience significant moral distress when they witness colleague misconduct, although many hesitate to report it. APRNs have clear ethical obligations to report based on the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics; however, legal reporting requirements vary from state to state: Some only require institutions to report terminations of nurses; others require nurses to report possible colleague misconduct. This article was prompted by a particular case and examines barriers to reporting and managing colleague misconduct, discusses legal and ethical reporting requirements, and offers recommendations to facilitate management of problematic and potentially unsafe colleague behavior.