Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. The Member was employed as a Registered Nurse at two different facilities. On 10 occasions between approximately May and September 2017, the Member was paid by both facilities for simultaneous shifts. The Member did not take vacation days from either facility on the relevant dates, and did not inform either facility that she was being paid by both of them for simultaneous shifts. In July and September 2017, the Member also breached patient privacy and confidentiality by accessing the medical records of patients from the first facility while working at the second facility.
Discipline Committee’s Findings
Based on the Member’s admissions, a panel of the Discipline Committee of the College of Nurses of Ontario (the “Panel”) found that the Member:
- contravened a standard of practice of the profession or failed to meet the standards of practice of the profession;
- misappropriated property from a client or workplace; and
- engaged in conduct, relevant to the practice of nursing, that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as dishonourable and unprofessional.
Discipline Committee’s Order
The College of Nurses of Ontario (“CNO”) and the Member presented the Panel with a Joint Submission on Order requesting that the Panel make an order that included the following:
- an oral reprimand;
- a 4-month suspension;
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert;
- employer notification for 12 months; and
- no independent practice for 12 months.
- revocation of the Member’s certificate of registration.
The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Order, concluding that the proposed penalty was reasonable and in the public interest. The Panel noted that the Member cooperated with the CNO and accepted responsibility by agreeing to the facts and a proposed order.