Preparing for an NCBON Investigator Interview

Keep the complete letter or email, including attachments. Identify the investigator, the matter being discussed, any documents requested and the proposed interview date. If the request is unclear, note the questions that need clarification.

Do not assume that an interview is unrelated to the formal review because the invitation sounds conversational. At the same time, do not ignore it. The NCBON’s guidance describes interviews and written responses as ways a nurse can address allegations, and warns about failing to respond reasonably.

Start with dates, locations, your assignment and the sequence of events. Mark which details come from your own recollection and which come from a document or another person. If you do not remember something, record that uncertainty instead of filling the gap.

A useful chronology makes the event easier to examine. It should not turn assumptions into facts or present a later explanation as if it appeared in the original chart. Counsel can help determine which parts are relevant to the question under investigation.

Relevant material may include the notice, your own prior statement, policies in effect at the time or communications you are entitled to possess. Access to patient records and employer systems requires particular care.

Do not use a former login, remove a chart, copy restricted material or send patient information to a personal account without authorization. If you no longer have lawful access to something you believe is important, identify it for counsel so an appropriate request can be considered. Preserve existing records rather than changing them.

An employer’s interview, a Board interview and a discussion with an insurer may concern the same event without serving the same purpose. Identify who is requesting information and whether you have already made a statement elsewhere.

Tell counsel about related civil, criminal or employment matters and any lawyer already involved. That allows the different requests to be considered together rather than preparing an isolated answer that overlooks another proceeding.

The Board recognizes that a nurse may retain an attorney during an investigation. If counsel is retained, its guidance requires a letter of representation to the investigator. Discuss the proposed interview and any deadline early enough to address the arrangements.

Counsel can help you examine the allegation, identify relevant context and prepare questions about the process. Preparation should improve accuracy and understanding; it should not create a memorized story or suggest facts you do not know.

Before discussing the interview with counsel, gather the following through lawful channels:

• The complete interview request and any earlier Board correspondence.
• The date, time and method proposed for the interview.
• Your chronology, with uncertainty and information sources clearly marked.
• Copies of statements or responses you previously submitted.
• A list of relevant policies, communications or records, including those you do not have authority to access.
• Questions about the process, the request and any documents you are being asked to provide.

Keep any follow-up correspondence and identify additional requests or dates. If you believe something you said was inaccurate or incomplete, discuss how to address it through the appropriate channel rather than sending an impulsive series of explanations.

Continue preserving material and follow the instructions that apply to your matter. Neither the tone of an interview nor the time before the next contact establishes what the eventual outcome will be.