IPHP Committee — Nursing

Iowa Professional Health Program

The goal of the Iowa Professional Health Program (IPHP) is to provide confidential, supportive monitoring that facilitates recovery in a manner that allows licensees to successfully practice their profession. The IPHP uses a system of accountability that is non-disciplinary. The IPHP believes that early diagnosis, treatment and monitoring provide the best outcomes for licensees, registrants, and their patients or clients. 

• Additional information about the IPHP is available here.

Definitions

To better understand the objective of the IPHP committee, it is important that everyone understands what the program means when referring to “impairment” and “self-report.”

• "Impairment" means an inability to practice dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting with reasonable safety and skill as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, dependency, or addiction, or any mental or physical disorder or disability.
• "Self-report" means the licensee providing written or oral notifications to the board that the licensee has received or may receive a diagnosis as having an impairment before the board's receiving a complaint or report alleging an impairment before the date of self-report.

Access the form to file a self-report here.

IPHP Committee — Nursing

The committee includes, but is not limited, to the following:

• The executive director of the Iowa Board of Nursing, or the director's designee from the board's staff;
• Licensed nurses who have remained free of addiction for two or more years after completing a recovery program for drug or alcohol dependency, addiction, or abuse;
• A physician or counselor with expertise in substance abuse/addiction treatment programs;
• A psychiatrist or psychologist; and
• A public member.

Meeting Dates

• March 11, 2025
• June 10, 2025
• September 9, 2025
• December 9, 2025

Self-Report to IPHP

When a licensed nurse self-reports and seeks help, assessments or treatments received are completely confidential, allowing them to get the help they need. The committee works with participants to address the areas of concern by coordinating with providers to determine what services are needed to ensure you’re safe to practice medicine. 

• Access the form to file a self-report here.
• Contact IPHP staff using the contact information below.

Confidentiality

Iowa law mandates that information in the possession of the IPHP remain confidential with few exceptions. Participation in the program is not a matter of public record. The confidentiality requirements prohibit licensing boards from having access to IPHP records or related information.

Exceptions to Confidentiality

• Licensees and registrants must report their participation to other state(s) in which they are licensed or applying for licensure.
• The IPHP can collaborate with the participant’s treatment team throughout the duration of the contract.
• The IPHP can report a participant’s non-compliance with his/her IPHP contract to the licensing  board for consideration of disciplinary action. Disciplinary action, if taken, is a public record.
• The IPHP can communicate information to the licensing board if there is a significant risk to the public.

Healthcare practitioners are obligated to report knowledge of another practitioner's possible impairment to the board. It is in the practitioner's best interest to self-report an impairment before someone else files a complaint or report. By self-reporting, the licensee may avoid formal disciplinary action. Formal disciplinary action taken against a practitioner is a matter of public record. 

IPHP Forms & Resources

• IPRC Self-Report Form

Participant Resources

General information regarding the program is available in the INAP handbook.