Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. Between January 2021 and December 2022, the Member made inappropriate comments about patients and colleagues, including the use of profanity, was rude to other nurses and new hires, and painted her nails while on shift while failing to respond to call bells or care for patients.
At the relevant times, Member often worked as the charge nurse on night shifts and was assigned to care for challenging and complex conditions and supervised more junior nurses. The Member took several medical leaves due to work-related stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic during this time.
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;
- completion of the following course from Saskatchewan Polytechnic Centre for Continuing Education: Leadership in Nursing (LEAD- 201), or a comparable course as approved by CNO and meetings with a nurse mentor should the Member obtain a leadership position in nursing prior to completing the course; 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.