A panel of the Inquiry Committee approved a Consent Agreement under which the Registrant agreed to a suspension of six (6) weeks, completing a remedial course in ethics and undertakings involving regular monitoring for fitness to practice nursing and a limitation on area of practice. The undertakings include, but are not limited to: regular reports from treating physicians regarding compliance with treatment recommendations, disclosure of treatment recommendations to relevant employer representative(s), and a limit on practice designed to prevent the circumstances leading to the practice concern from reoccurring. The Agreement will remain in place for a minimum of five years of continuous nursing practice. The reasons for the Inquiry Committee decision are as follows:
- The Registrant diverted a significant amount of narcotics and other controlled substances from the workplace and falsified records in the course of diverting narcotics and other controlled substances. The registrant admitted to removing and ingesting the narcotics once confronted with documentary evidence, enabling the regulator to expedite the investigation. The registrant admitted to suffering a disability, namely a substance use disorder. The registrant attended residential treatment and is engaged in post-treatment follow up and monitoring activities.
- The Registrant provided an independent medical assessment positively diagnosing the substance use disorders.
- The independent medical assessment identified the Registrant is fit to practice nursing and provided information regarding compliance with treatment recommendations.
The name of the Registrant has been withheld in accordance with section 39.3 (4) (a) of the Health Professions Act for the purposes of not identifying the personal health information of the Registrant respecting the condition. The Inquiry Committee is satisfied that the undertakings will protect the public.