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Portage Nurse Summarily Suspended

January 5, 2010

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has immediately suspended the license to practice as a registered nurse of Mary Elizabeth Nienstedt, R.N., C.N.P., based on her conviction in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court, Barry County, Michigan. Nienstedt failed to report her conviction to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code.

On Sept. 24, 2009, Nienstedt, 61, was convicted of one count of larceny in a building (attempt), a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years. As a result, Nienstedt was sentenced to 30 days in jail (with credit for one day), placed on probation for a period of 12 months with terms, and ordered to pay fees and costs totaling $628.00.

On Dec. 18, 2009, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Nienstedt's license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional's license upon the conviction of a felony, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years, or a controlled substance-related conviction. The suspension of the nursing license also automatically caused the suspension of Nienstedt's nurse practitioner specialty certification.

For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Licensing.