The Member was not present or represented by legal counsel at the hearing. The hearing proceeded in her absence.
Facts
While working overnight as a Registered Practical Nurse on an Acute Care Floor with a patient ratio of 1:5, the Member was assigned to an unstable patient who died the following morning. The facility investigated the Member’s care for each of her patients on that shift, and concluded that her care failed to meet the facility’s expectations. The Member failed to conduct purposeful hourly rounding and vitals on her patients, failed to escalate care for a patient as required, failed to document the nursing care she provided, and documented medical assessments which she did not complete.
Discipline Committee’s Findings
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;
- failed to keep records as required;
- falsified a record relating to her practice; 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 Panel made an order that included the following:
- an oral reprimand;
- a 5-month suspension;
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending a minimum of 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert; and
- employer notification for 18 months.
The Panel concluded that the penalty was reasonable and in the public interest, and satisfies the principles of specific and general deterrence, rehabilitation and remediation, and public protection.