Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. The Member worked as Nurse Practitioner (“NP”) in a community health facility. The Member had a pre-existing personal and intimate relationship with an individual (“A.”), to which nursing services were introduced. The Member provided nursing services to A. non-emergent situations, when this care could have been provided by someone else, including: wound care, physical assessment and referral for an x-ray, and prescription of a contraceptive. When A. threatened self-harm, the Member slapped A.’s face. The Member directed A. to delete text messages between them, and not to tell anyone that they had kissed.
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;
- emotionally and physically abused a patient;
- failed to keep records as required; and
- engaged in conduct, relevant to the practice of nursing, that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, 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 12-month suspension;
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- successfully completing the CPEP PROBE: Ethics and Boundaries Program within 12 months at her own expense;
- attending a minimum of 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert;
- employer notification for 18 months; and
- no independent practice for 18 months.
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.