Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. In November 2016, the Member was found guilty of driving while intoxicated in another jurisdiction. In February 2018, the Member’s governing body in that jurisdiction found that she had committed professional misconduct by attending work while incapacitated and when she was found guilty of evading arrest. The Member failed to report various criminal charges outside of Ontario to the College of Nurses of Ontario (“CNO”).
Discipline Committee’s Findings
Based on the Member’s admissions, a panel of the Discipline Committee (the “Panel”) of the College of Nurses of Ontario (the “CNO”) found that the Member:
- was found guilty of an offence relevant to her suitability to practise;
- was found to have committed an act of professional misconduct by the governing body of a health profession in a jurisdiction other than Ontario that would constitute professional misconduct in Ontario;
- contravened a term, condition or limitation on her certificate of registration by:
- failing to report charges arising in any jurisdiction relating to any offence to the CNO;
- failing to report a finding of guilt arising in any jurisdiction relating to any offence to the CNO;
- failing to provide CNO with details of the finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity made by another governing body of a health profession in another jurisdiction;
- failing to provide the CNO with details of a current investigation, inquiry or proceeding for professional misconduct in another jurisdiction;
- 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 Member signed an undertaking to permanently resign as a member of the CNO and agreed not to apply for membership with CNO at any time in the future.
In light of the Member’s undertaking, CNO and the Member jointly sought an order requiring the Member to appear before the Panel for an oral reprimand.
The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Order, concluding that the proposed penalty was reasonable and in the public interest. The Member cooperated with CNO and accepted responsibility by agreeing to the facts and a proposed order.