Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. In October 2021, the Member forged a colleague’s signature on a vaccine form indicating that the colleague had administered a COVID-19 vaccine to the Member when this had not occurred, and falsely documented that two other colleagues had administered COVID-19 vaccines to patients when they had not. The Member also asked a staff member to falsely record that COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered to three of her family members when they had not done so. Finally, between September and October 2021, the Member administered COVID-19 vaccines to members of her family in non-clinical areas of her workplace.
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;
- falsified a record relating to her practice;
- signed or issued, in her professional capacity, a document that she knew or ought to have known contained a false or misleading statement; 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 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.