CNO 2015

The Member, a Nurse Practitioner, faced allegations of professional misconduct for prescribing controlled substances (Lorazepam and Codeine) without authorization and misappropriating approximately $19,000 in public funds from a Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic to benefit family and friends.

The Member admitted to the allegations via an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee found the Member committed professional misconduct and accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a six-month suspension, and various remedial terms and conditions on his certificate of registration.

The Member, a Registered Practical Nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct including engaging in a personal, romantic, and sexual relationship with a vulnerable former client shortly after their discharge.

The Member also misappropriated medications from the facility and provided them to the client contrary to their treatment plan.

The Discipline Committee found that the Member committed professional misconduct, including sexual abuse, as the psychotherapeutic nurse-client relationship continued post-discharge.

The former member applied for reinstatement of her certificate of registration, which was revoked in 2003 following criminal convictions for fraud.

The former member failed to attend the reinstatement hearing despite receiving adequate notice.

As the onus was on the former member to establish suitability for reinstatement and no evidence was led, the Discipline Committee dismissed the application.

The applicant applied for reinstatement of her nursing certificate of registration, which was revoked in 2009 for professional misconduct involving a sexual relationship with a client.

The College of Nurses of Ontario did not oppose the application, and both parties presented a joint submission on order.

Relying on an independent psychiatric evaluation that deemed the applicant a low risk to re-offend, as well as her subsequent rehabilitation and retraining as a Pharmacy Technician, the Discipline Committee granted the reinstatement subject to strict terms, conditions, and limitations, including practice monitoring and restrictions on independent community nursing.

The Member, a registered nurse, admitted to committing professional misconduct by accessing the electronic medical records of 338 clients without consent or authorization over a two-year period.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and found the Member's conduct to be a breach of the standards of practice and dishonourable and unprofessional.

The Committee accepted a Joint Submission on Order, imposing a reprimand, a three-month suspension, and terms, conditions, and limitations on the Member's certificate of registration, including meetings with a nursing expert and employer notification.

The College of Nurses of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a registered nurse who had been found guilty of two separate criminal assaults and failed to report the second finding of guilt to the College.

The member admitted to the allegations and agreed to a statement of facts.

The Discipline Committee found that the member committed professional misconduct, including engaging in disgraceful, dishonourable, and unprofessional conduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a three-month suspension of the member's certificate of registration, and terms and conditions including meetings with a nursing expert and employer notification.