Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. In March 2019, the Member failed to report to the inpatient mental health unit when it was understaffed after being directed to do so by the Leader-On-Call. In August 2020, during shift change, the Member swung her hands and screamed in a colleague’s face, and yelled profanities within the earshot of patients. In January 2021, the Member took extended breaks near the end of her 12-hour shifts, which was contrary to the facility’s policy. In February 2021, when assessing a patient with nasal cellulitis, the Member took a photo of the patient with her personal cell phone contrary to the facility’s policy and without a clinical purpose. The Member showed the photograph to several colleagues without a clinical purpose, and repeatedly stated that the patient’s nose looked like a “pig’s snout”.
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; 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 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.