Important: This tool helps you format documents for court filing. It does NOT provide legal advice and is NOT a substitute for an attorney. No attorney-client relationship is created.
Advocate Toolkit / Nursing Board Complaints
How Do You Report a Nurse or CNA in Oregon?
This page gives you a free tool to file a complaint against a nurse, CNA, or nursing assistant with the Oregon State Board of Nursing. If a nursing professional abused or neglected a patient, diverted medications, falsified records, or worked beyond their scope, this helps you put a specific, verifiable complaint in front of the Board.
When do you need this?
You need this when you have seen a nurse or nursing assistant do something that put a patient at risk, and you want the licensing board to look at it. That can be neglect -- ignoring calls for help, leaving someone in unsafe conditions, missing basic care. It can be abuse, whether physical, verbal, or emotional. It can be drug diversion, where medications meant for a patient go missing or are shorted. It can be falsified records -- charting care that never happened, or a medication administration record that does not match reality. It can be practicing beyond what a CNA or nurse is licensed to do.
You do not have to be the patient. Family members, coworkers, and witnesses can all file. Under ORS 678.126, complaints to the Board are treated as confidential.
What the Board needs is specifics: dates, times, the facility name, who was involved, and exactly what happened. Vague concerns are hard to act on. If you have photos, records, or other witnesses, note them. If a patient is in immediate danger, call 911 and report to Adult Protective Services first -- a licensing complaint is about accountability, not emergency rescue.
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How does it work?
You answer plain-English questions about the nurse or CNA, the facility, and what happened -- the dates, the conduct, your vantage point, and any evidence you have. You describe it in your own words; there is no clinical or legal jargon required.
The tool assembles a structured complaint to the Oregon State Board of Nursing and delivers it as a Word file. An optional AI pass can organize your account into clearer language, and you always review and approve what it produces. Nothing is stored on our servers; your draft stays in your browser until you choose to generate it. Then you review it, attach any evidence, and submit it to the Board. Read it over carefully before sending, and lean on Adult Protective Services or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for support when the situation calls for it.
Start your filing — freeFrequently asked questions
How do I report a nurse in Oregon?
You file a complaint with the Oregon State Board of Nursing, which licenses and disciplines RNs, LPNs, APRNs, and CNAs. The Board acts on conduct that violates the Nurse Practice Act -- abuse, neglect, drug diversion, falsifying records, practicing while impaired, or working beyond one's scope. Give the Board specific, verifiable facts: the nurse's name, the facility, dates and times, what happened, and any evidence. Anyone can file -- patients, family, coworkers, or witnesses. The statutes governing nursing complaints include ORS 678.111 and ORS 678.126, and this tool helps you build a complaint the Board can actually act on.
Is a nursing board complaint confidential in Oregon?
Under ORS 678.126, complaints to the Oregon State Board of Nursing are generally treated as confidential, which is meant to encourage people to report without fear. That said, confidentiality provisions have limits and can operate differently as an investigation proceeds -- for instance, the substance of a complaint may need to be shared with the nurse to allow a response. If confidentiality is a serious concern for you, review the Board's current policies or ask them directly before filing. The protection exists to make reporting safer, but do not assume it is absolute in every circumstance.
What can I report a CNA or nurse for?
Reportable conduct generally includes patient abuse (physical, verbal, or emotional), neglect such as ignoring care needs or safety, diverting or stealing medications, falsifying charts or medication records, practicing while impaired by drugs or alcohol, breaching patient boundaries, and acting outside the scope of the license. Failing to report abuse can itself be a problem. What the Board needs is specifics tied to dates and a facility, not a general impression that someone was a bad caregiver. If you can describe exactly what happened and when, you give the Board something it can investigate.
Do I have to be the patient to file a nursing complaint?
No. Anyone with firsthand knowledge can file -- patients, family members, coworkers, and other witnesses. This matters a great deal in eldercare and facility settings, where the patient may be too frail, confused, or dependent to report for themselves. When you file as a family member or witness, explain your vantage point: how you know what happened, what you personally saw or heard, and when. That grounding helps the Board weigh your complaint. Coworkers who report unsafe or unethical conduct play an important role too, since they often see problems patients and families never witness.
What happens after I file a nursing board complaint?
The Board generally reviews the complaint to decide whether it falls within its authority and warrants investigation. If it does, the Board can investigate, gather records, and give the nurse a chance to respond. Outcomes range from closing the matter to disciplinary action against the license, depending on what the investigation finds. It is not a fast process, and the Board handles professional discipline -- it does not award you money or resolve a lawsuit. If you are also pursuing civil or criminal accountability, those are separate tracks. Keep copies of everything you submit, and note any evidence you can provide.
Valor Investigations is not a law firm and these tools are not legal advice. They produce drafts based on your answers; you are responsible for reviewing, verifying deadlines, and filing. When possible, have a licensed Oregon attorney review your documents before filing.