No, since January 1, 2013, nurses have been required to self-report charges against them to the College. This obligation was part of changes made to College regulations.

Nurses must self-report the following charges:

• An offence under the Criminal Code of Canada
• An offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
• Other offences that could be relevant to practice. For example, if a nurse is charged with a provincial offence under the Personal Health Information Protection Act for inappropriately accessing personal health information.

Speeding or parking tickets do not have to be reported to the College. As accountable professionals, nurses should use their judgment and knowledge of the nursing profession and the practice standards when considering whether a charge may be relevant to suitability to practice nursing and therefore should be reported.

No, the College does not investigate every self-report that is received. The College’s Executive Director reviews the self-report, determines what level of risk may be posed to the public and makes a decision about an appropriate response. There are many options available to the Executive Director that do not involve an investigation. For example, a nurse may be advised to review practice standards and in some cases, may be asked to meet with a representative from the College’s professional conduct department to discuss the matter.

No, the College receives information from a wide variety of sources. Some of these sources include employers, the police, the public and the news media.

A nurse who does not meet his or her self-reporting obligation could be investigated and may face professional conduct allegations.

Charges that are assessed as being relevant to a nurse’s suitability to practice will be posted on the nurse’s profile on Find a Nurse, the College’s public register.

Visit the Transparency section of the website for more information.

Yes, nurses are just one group of health professionals who have mandatory self-reporting obligations. Physicians, for example, must also report charges to their regulator, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

For assistance or more information on the self-reporting process, email the College at investigations-intake@cnomail.org or call 416 963-7504 (toll-free in Canada 1 877 963-7504).