Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. Between March 2021 to December 2022, while working as an RPN on an inpatient medicine unit at a hospital, the Member repeatedly made unprofessional and inappropriate comments about patients. The Member failed to provide appropriate care to patient during a night shift, including failing to respond to the patient’s call bell and to address the patient’s excessive bleeding and wound care. The Member’s colleague, who was not assigned as the patient’s primary nurse, was required to care for the patient. On at least three occasions in the fall of 2022, the Member painted her nails while on shift instead of answering patient call bells or providing patient care.
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;
- 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 4-month suspension;
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending a minimum of 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert;
- employer notification for 24 months; and
- no independent practice for 12 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.