Background
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. On November 25, 2020, the College’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (“ICRC”) ordered the Member to complete a Specified Continuing Education or Remediation Program (“SCERP”) and, once the SCERP was completed, to appear before the ICRC to be cautioned. Despite the College attempting to communicate with the Member on 23 occasions over a period of 13 months, the Member did not complete the SCERP and failed to respond to most of the College’s correspondence.
Discipline Committee’s Findings
Based on the Member’s admission and the evidence led by the College, a panel of the Discipline Committee of the College of Nurses of Ontario (the “Panel”) found that the Member 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 dishonourable and unprofessional.
Discipline Committee’s Order
The Panel made an order that included:
- an oral reprimand;
- a 4-month suspension, which shall continue until the Member completes the SCERP if she does not do so within the 4-month period; and
- terms, conditions and limitations including:
- compliance with the prior order of the ICRC including:
- completion of a specified continuing education program (SCERP) and
- attendance for an oral caution; and
- attending at least 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert.
The Panel concluded that the order had to include a provision to extend the suspension of the Member’s certificate of registration should she continue to fail to comply with the ICRC’s order.