As Ontario’s regulator for the nursing profession, CNO must review all reports regarding nurses’ behaviour. This page provides an overview of the process that happens after we receive a report, and the possible outcomes.
This information is not intended as legal advice. You are encouraged to seek legal advice and/or contact CNO if you have any questions about reporting.
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If you are a member of the public and you want to make a complaint about a nurse's conduct, please follow the instructions for making a complaint.
What does CNO do when we receive a report?
- CNO conducts a preliminary investigation and prepares a report
- CNO’s Registrar & CEO reviews the report and determines the appropriate response.
- CNO pursues one of the following options (depending on the level of risk to the public:
- remedial options (described later on this page)
- a full investigation
- a hearing before the Discipline Committee
CNO reviews every report we receive. During the preliminary investigation, we typically interview at least one person at the facility named in the report. We also analyze the level of risk a nurse’s practice poses to the public, based on the information provided. Once the preliminary investigation is completed, the investigator prepares a report for CNO’s Registrar & CEO.
CNO’s Registrar & CEO reviews the report along with any information about the nurse that we may have received previously (for example, from an earlier employer’s report or a previous patient complaint). The Registrar & CEO assesses the level of risk created by the nurse’s practice and determines an appropriate regulatory response.
There are a number of options available, including remedial options, a full investigation or a hearing before CNO’s Discipline Committee. We can deal appropriately with most cases without a hearing.
The time the process will take varies based on several factors. The most important factor is the investigator’s assessment of the level of risk a nurse poses to patients.
Legislation requires us to keep the reporting process confidential. The information about a nurse’s practice that the legislation permits us to share is on our public register, Find a Nurse.
Remedial options
If CNO’s preliminary investigation determines that the risk a nurse poses to the public is low, the matter is resolved through remedial options. These are reflection-based strategies to ensure public protection. In most cases, the remedial action appropriately addresses the risk presented by the nurse’s practice. The main remedial options are described in this section.
Letter of notice and direction
The nurse is informed that CNO received a report about their practice.
The nurse is asked to review the relevant practice standards and practice guidelines on CNO’s website.
Then they independently reflect on how those standards apply to their nursing practice.
A CNO representative meets with the nurse
The nurse is asked to meet with a CNO nurse facilitator for a guided discussion on their nursing practice and the concern reported to CNO.
To prepare for the meeting, the nurse is asked to reflect on how the reported concern relates to their practice. The nurse must also develop a learning plan to address the gaps in their practice.
The nurse and nurse facilitator review the learning plan during the meeting, with the nurse facilitator providing feedback.
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