Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. While working as as a Registered Nurse at a mental health facility, the Member provided care to a non-verbal, blind patient with a severe intellectual disability. The patient had a care plan, which defined behavioural interventions which would be implemented to achieve the patient’s therapeutic goals. These included verbally cueing the patient to go for a walk before meals, without using punitive words, threats or force.
In September 2022, the patient tested positive for COVID-19, and the physician made an order allowing the patient to rest in their room while symptomatic, which was a change to the patient’s daily routine. The Member was observed by a personal care attendant, among other things, yelling at the patient and demanding that they get up, removing the blankets off the patient abruptly, and grabbing the patient by the leg and tipping the patient’s mattress in an attempt to remove them from the bed. The Member’s tone of voice and actions were described as aggressive and inappropriate.
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;
- verbally, physically and emotionally abused a patient; 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 3-month suspension;
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending a minimum of 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert; and
- employer notification 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.