On This Page
Anna Allyssa Valdez, 17304739
Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. During a night shift at a hospital, the Member was responsible for a low acuity patient who was scheduled to be discharged the following morning. The Member was required to complete a vital sign check of the patient every four hours per physician’s orders, and visually observe the patient hourly. The Member did not complete or document any care to the patient between approximately midnight and 6:00 am. At 6:10 am, the Member attended the patient’s room and found the patient not breathing. After attempts at resuscitation, the patient’s time of death was called at 6:57 am.
Following the patient’s death, the Member revised her charting multiple times to indicate that she had observed the patient breathing and/or coherent at different times throughout the night despite the fact that this was not true. In addition, on the evening prior to the patient’s death, the Member failed to observe the patient take narcotic medications dispensed by the Member, charted inaccurate information about the patient based on a verbal report from a colleague and failed to document her assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, or treatment plan in respect of the Member’s finding that the patient had expiratory wheezes.
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;
- falsified a record relating to the Member’s practice;
- signed or issued, in the Member’s 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 dishonourable and/or 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; and
- terms, conditions and limitations including:
- attending 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert;
- employer notification for 18 months; and
- random spot audits of the Member’s documentation for 18 months.
The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Order, concluding that the proposed penalty was reasonable and in the public interest.
