Facts
The Member admitted that he engaged in professional misconduct. In late December 2021, the Member was assigned as the primary nurse for a patient providing in-home care relating to wounds on a patient’s foot. During the Member’s five visits, the patient complained about the odour emanating from his wound and the level of pain the patient was experiencing. The Member failed to document any of his home visits to the patient at this time.
When the patient attended a scheduled follow-up appointment at the hospital a week later, the patient was immediately admitted due to the state of their wounds and one of the patient’s toes was amputated. The patient filed a formal complaint about the Member’s care, which was investigated by the facility.
Following the patient’s complaint, the Member electronically charted late entry progress notes relating to his visits to the patient’s home. The Member also telephoned the patient while he was no longer in a nurse-patient relationship with them. This caused the patient distress.
During the investigation, the facility audited the Member’s documentation relating to seven other patients. The facility concluded that the Member’s failures to document were serious deficiencies that compromised the ability of the health care team to provide care to these seven patients.
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 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 6-month suspension;
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending a minimum of 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert;
- successfully completing educational coursework at the Member’s expense before returning to the practice of nursing;
- employer notification for 18 months, including four random spot audits; 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.