License protection

What happens if a complaint is filed against your Delaware nursing license

Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources

A complaint is not a finding. Here is how the Delaware Board of Nursing actually handles a complaint, from intake to resolution, with the board's own published process.

The arc of a complaint

Intake and jurisdiction review

The board first decides whether it CAN act: is the subject a licensee, and would the allegation, if true, violate the nurse practice act? Complaints about rudeness, billing, or matters outside the act commonly close here without the nurse ever being investigated.

Investigation

If the complaint advances, the board notifies the nurse, gathers records, and may request a written response or interview. The nurse usually keeps practicing during this stage unless the board seeks an emergency action.

Resolution

Three broad endings: dismissal or closure with no action; a negotiated agreed/consent order with terms; or, in the minority of cases, a formal hearing. Only final actions become public discipline in Nursys.

Framework per NCSBN's discipline resources; the Delaware Board of Nursing runs its own version, summarized below.

The Delaware board's published process

Board-sourced

Delaware's Division of Professional Regulation (DPR), the state agency housing the Board of Nursing, processes nurse complaints through its shared Investigative Unit: a complaint is filed online via DELPROS naming a complainant and a respondent, DPR acknowledges receipt and forwards the complaint to the respondent (who has 20 calendar days to answer), and DPR investigates and updates the complainant on progress until the matter is resolved.

Timeline: DPR sends acknowledgment (to both complainant and respondent) within 15 days of receiving the complaint, the respondent has 20 calendar days to file an answer, and DPR advises the complainant of the complaint's progress at least every 90 days until it is resolved. The Board of Nursing's own FAQ and complaint pages do not publish a separate stage-by-stage timeline; they route to this shared DPR Investigative Unit process.

DPR states that when appropriate it may keep the complainant's name confidential in the information sent to the respondent, and separately publishes closed disciplinary board orders and lists of disciplinary actions for licensees (including nurses) via Delaware's Open Data Portal and DELPROS license lookup.

Requirements verified against the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Investigative Unit, Filing A Complaint (governs Board of Nursing complaints) · last checked Jul 9, 2026 · How RenewRN verifies its data

This is descriptive, not legal advice. If you have received notice of a complaint, the Delaware Board of Nursing is the authoritative source, and a licensed attorney can advise on your specific situation.

Delaware board complaint FAQ

How does the Delaware Board of Nursing handle a complaint against my license?: Delaware's Division of Professional Regulation (DPR), the state agency housing the Board of Nursing, processes nurse complaints through its shared Investigative Unit: a complaint is filed online via DELPROS naming a complainant and a respondent, DPR acknowledges receipt and forwards the complaint to the respondent (who has 20 calendar days to answer), and DPR investigates and updates the complainant on progress until the matter is resolved.
How long does a nursing board complaint take in Delaware?: DPR sends acknowledgment (to both complainant and respondent) within 15 days of receiving the complaint, the respondent has 20 calendar days to file an answer, and DPR advises the complainant of the complaint's progress at least every 90 days until it is resolved. The Board of Nursing's own FAQ and complaint pages do not publish a separate stage-by-stage timeline; they route to this shared DPR Investigative Unit process. Nationally, NCSBN describes investigations running from a few weeks to over a year depending on complexity, and a nurse usually keeps practicing during the investigation unless the board seeks an emergency action.
Is a complaint against my Delaware nursing license public?: A pending complaint is generally not public. Only a final disciplinary action becomes part of your public record and appears in Nursys. DPR states that when appropriate it may keep the complainant's name confidential in the information sent to the respondent, and separately publishes closed disciplinary board orders and lists of disciplinary actions for licensees (including nurses) via Delaware's Open Data Portal and DELPROS license lookup.
Where do I file or respond to a complaint in Delaware?: Complaints and responses go through the Delaware Board of Nursing, which is always the authoritative source. A complaint is not a finding: many close at intake for lack of jurisdiction. Practicing on a lapsed or restricted license, or ignoring a board notice, is what turns a complaint into discipline.

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The arc of a complaint

Intake and jurisdiction review

Investigation

Resolution

Framework per NCSBN's discipline resources; the Delaware Board of Nursing runs its own version, summarized below.

The Delaware board's published process

Board-sourced

Delaware board complaint FAQ

How does the Delaware Board of Nursing handle a complaint against my license?

How long does a nursing board complaint take in Delaware?

DPR sends acknowledgment (to both complainant and respondent) within 15 days of receiving the complaint, the respondent has 20 calendar days to file an answer, and DPR advises the complainant of the complaint's progress at least every 90 days until it is resolved. The Board of Nursing's own FAQ and complaint pages do not publish a separate stage-by-stage timeline; they route to this shared DPR Investigative Unit process. Nationally, NCSBN describes investigations running from a few weeks to over a year depending on complexity, and a nurse usually keeps practicing during the investigation unless the board seeks an emergency action.

Is a complaint against my Delaware nursing license public?

A pending complaint is generally not public. Only a final disciplinary action becomes part of your public record and appears in Nursys. DPR states that when appropriate it may keep the complainant's name confidential in the information sent to the respondent, and separately publishes closed disciplinary board orders and lists of disciplinary actions for licensees (including nurses) via Delaware's Open Data Portal and DELPROS license lookup.

Where do I file or respond to a complaint in Delaware?

Complaints and responses go through the Delaware Board of Nursing, which is always the authoritative source. A complaint is not a finding: many close at intake for lack of jurisdiction. Practicing on a lapsed or restricted license, or ignoring a board notice, is what turns a complaint into discipline.