A panel of the Inquiry Committee approved a Consent Agreement under which the Registrant agreed to undertakings involving regular monitoring for fitness to practice nursing and a limitation on area of practice. The concerns giving rise to the complaint included the Registrant diverting a significant amount of narcotic and other controlled substances from the employer over a prolonged period of time, practising while impaired, and falsification of records in order to conceal the diversion activities. The Registrant took advantage of weaknesses in the agency's medication administration and inventory practices and took advantage of a vulnerable client population who may not know which medications they are or are not receiving.
The undertakings include but are not limited to: a four-month suspension, regular reports from a medical monitoring agency regarding compliance with treatment recommendations, disclosure of treatment recommendations to relevant employer representative(s), and limits on practice designed to prevent the circumstances leading to the practice concern from reoccurring.
The limits include not working in any setting whereby there would be access to narcotics, benzodiazepines, controlled substances and the “zed" class of drugs for a term; a restriction from working in long-term care; and restrictions from working night shifts, being the sole nurse on duty, or being in charge of students. The Agreement will remain in place for a minimum of seven years of continuous nursing practice. The reasons for the Inquiry Committee decision are as follows:
The Registrant provided an independent medical assessment documenting health concerns to BCCNM which could impact the ability to provide safe patient care; and
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.