On Nov. 5, 2024, a panel of the Inquiry Committee approved a consent agreement between BCCNM and the registrant to address issues occurring from December 2022 to February 2023, relating to the registrant diverting narcotics from the workplace for their personal use, and for falsifying medical records in order to conceal their diversion activities.
The falsification of the medical record left the impression that patients were requiring more prn (as needed) narcotic medication than what was actually administered, a practice that potentially could have resulted in patient harm. The registrant also has a history of narcotic diversion and regulatory intervention for the very same concerns. The registrant was diagnosed with and admitted to a disability with a causal relationship to the practice issues via an independent medical evaluation and they have agreed to comply with the treatment recommendations and additional terms directed by the Inquiry Committee.
The registrant has voluntarily agreed to terms equivalent to a limit and/or condition on their practice, including:
- A suspension of their registration for one week and a public reprimand for diverting narcotics from the workplace for their own use and falsifying medical records to conceal the diversion.
- Enrollment in a medical monitoring agreement for 36 months with regular reports of compliance being provided to BCCNM. The first 24 months, at minimum, must be with an independent medical monitoring agency.
- A limit restricting access to and handling of narcotics, benzodiazepines, controlled substances, and the “zed" class of drugs, with concurrent medical monitoring, for a term to support the stable return to work and ongoing fitness to practice.
- A limit that they not act as the nurse-in-charge, work night shifts, have supervision over students or being involved in the orientation of staff, all for six months.
- A limit that they not work overtime for 12 months.
- An agreement to follow any return-to-work plan implemented by their employer.
The agreement will remain in place for a minimum of four years of continuous nursing practice. 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 a registrant or their personal health information respecting the condition that impaired their ability to practice nursing or midwifery.
The Inquiry Committee is satisfied that the terms will protect the public.