File a Complaint
The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) regulates nurse licenses, nursing education programs, and nursing assistant training programs in Washington state.
File a complaint
- About a nurse (Online)
- About a nurse (PDF)
- About a physician
- All other health professions (including nursing assistants)
- Look up a practitioner's license for any action taken
Nursing education complaint
Visit Nursing Program Complaints to file a complaint about:
- Nursing education program
- Nursing faculty member
- Nursing Assistant training program
You filed a complaint. Now what?
If you filed the complaint and the board decides to close the complaint without an investigation, you will be notified by mail. You may ask the board to reconsider its decision. This is a one-time option to submit additional, relevant information that indicates a violation of nursing law occurred (see RCW 18.130). Without additional relevant information, the case will remain closed.
If the board decides to investigate your complaint, the investigator may need you to:
- to determine if you are considered a whistleblower see WAC 246-15
- write a statement regarding the incident
A complaint has been filed against your nursing license. Now what?
You may not know a complaint has been filed until you receive either a letter telling you a complaint was filed and closed, or a letter advising you an investigation has been initiated. These letters are usually sent out within five days of the decision.
A note about nurse disciplinary action and self-care for the nurse
Nurses report facing a complaint against their professional license is often one of the more stressful experiences in their careers. The board understands nurses enter the profession to save lives and to provide excellent care, and no nurse sets out to make mistakes. Especially when there has been a negative patient outcome, the nurse may experience a rush of emotions. The board urges nurses to engage their support systems and seek professional help if stress becomes a problem.
The board's legal duty is to protect the public and remediate nurses' practice, not to punish. Furthermore, the board supports the concept of "just culture." Keep in mind the majority of cases do not require license suspension.