GNA Protects Nurses From Thieves, Stalkers, And Other Criminals

Georgia Nursing, May-Jul 2006 by Mazacoufa, Demetrius

Over the past several years, more and more people across the country have been victims of identity theft. With certain pieces of personal information gleamed from various sources including public records-these modern thieves have been able to capture the identity of unsuspecting consumers and proceed to charge large amounts of money to credit accounts, to pose as professionals to extract confidential information, and otherwise "steal" the name and reputation of honest citizens.

One area of concern for registered nurses across the state has been the public information available to everyone who inspects the secretary of State's web page to obtain the personal information available on this web site. Anyone can determine a registered nurse's name, license number, home address, and similar information. While most persons who visit this site do so for legitimate reasons, others have done so for illegal purposes.

During the 2006 session of the Georgia General Assembly, GNA was able to amend the Nurse Practice Act to make such illegal activity more difficult. With the passage of SB 480 and among the amendments contained in this bill, there is now a provision whereby a Georgia registered nurse can provide to the Georgia Board of Nursing a legitimate business address in lieu of his or her residential address for public information purposes. Now, instead of a home address, each RN can make sure that his or her business address is posted on the secretary of State's web site which lists all of Georgia's registered professional nurses.

This new way of posting information will help minimize a nurse's exposure to identify theft, as well as remove a way others with a criminal intent to locate the residential address of an individual RN.

by Demetrius Mazacoufa, J.D.

Mazacoufa is GNA legal counsel and lobbyist.