November 23, 2004

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the registered nurse license and licensed practical nurse license of Denise Diana Tinker, L.P.N., R.N., based on multiple misdemeanor convictions throughout Michigan.

Tinker failed to report the convictions to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code. From September 1995, through March 2003, Tinker was convicted of 13 varied Check Non-Sufficient Funds misdemeanor convictions. In addition, Tinker was terminated from employment as a nurse in March 2004, based on her theft of a patient’s personal identity information.

On November 12, 2004, MDCH issued an order immediately suspending Tinker’s nursing licenses according to the Public Health Code, which provides that emergency action be taken when the public’s health, safety, and welfare are at risk. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Tinker’s nursing licenses.

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.