Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. The Member worked in a nursing and retirement home. Between 2020 and January 2021, the Member engaged in a pattern of behavior toward her coworkers characterized by abusive, belittling, and inappropriate acts, including verbal abuse and physical violence.
In a separate incident in January 2021, the Member observed that a patient was not eating dinner in the dining hall. The Member responded by grabbing the utensils from the patient’s hand and yelling and threatening to withhold the patient’s pain medication.
In addition, between April 2020 and January 2021, the Member refused to wear her mask while on shift in accordance with the facility’s COVID-19 mask policy.
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;
- abused a patient emotionally; and
- engaged in conduct or performed an act, 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 10-month suspension; and
- terms, conditions and limitations including:
- attending at least 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert;
- successfully completing the Professional and Problem-based Ethics course;
- employer notification for 24 months;
- meeting with a mentor, at least twice monthly, for a minimum of 12 months; and
- no independent practice for 24 months.
The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Order, concluding that the proposed order 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.
The Panel further noted that the order shows other members that this conduct is serious and has attracted a serious sanction.