updated April 1, 2026
BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) regulates:
- Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs)
- Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Registered Midwives (RMs)
Our role is to protect the public by addressing concerns about the conduct, competence, or health of current or former licensees.
Our commitment to cultural safety
As part of this role, BCCNM is committed to ensuring the complaints process is culturally safe and accessible for all, particularly Indigenous Peoples. If you would like to share your identity or request accommodations, please let us know. We will work with you respectfully and in a trauma-informed way.
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Filing a complaint
Under the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), all complaints must be submitted in writing.
Public complaints
Members of the public can submit a complaint about a nurse or midwife using the
public complaint form (PDF), which guides you through the information we need to begin a review, including:
- Who the complaint is about
- What happened, when, and where
- Any witnesses or documents you wish to include
Submitting on someone else's behalf
If you are submitting a complaint on someone else's behalf, please also complete our Authorization for Representation form (PDF) so we can confirm who is authorized to act and communicate with BCCNM during the complaints process.
- Support Programs
- Under the
Health Professions and Occupations Act, individuals who submit a complaint involving sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, or discrimination may be eligible to receive support services or the assistance of a support worker.
Support services may include access to counselling and assistance in navigating the complaints process.
Information on how to apply will be provided once your complaint is received.
Eligibility is determined in accordance with the
Health Professions and Occupations Act and program criteria.
- Identity Protection
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In most cases, the information you provide, including your identity, will be shared with the nurse or midwife as part of a fair and transparent regulatory process.
We understand that in some situations, individuals may have concerns about their safety or the impact of being identified. The Health Professions and Occupations Act provides a mechanism to request that identifying information be protected in specific circumstances.
What is an identity protection order
An identity protection order is an order that keeps the applicant's name and identifying details confidential. It is a serious measure and is only granted when there is a real and substantiated concern that revealing the person's identity could put them at risk of harm.
Simply wanting to stay anonymous or not wanting to be involved is not enough to justify this type of order.
Who can request an identity protection order
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A person who makes a complaint or a report,
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A person who assists or provides information to an investigator,
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A person who received care from a licensee who did not have the requisite knowledge, skill, judgment or ability to practice due to a health condition or otherwise, or
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A person who experienced an act of misconduct by a licensee
Applying for an identity protection order
A person who seeks an identity protection order must submit an application. Following review of the application, the decision maker may:
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Grant full protection — no information that could identify the applicant can be disclosed,
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Grant partial protection — some information that may indirectly identify the applicant may be disclosed, or
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Refuse to grant the order
An order granting a full identity protection order may result in the termination of the regulatory matter.
- Support with filing a complaint
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If you would like assistance completing the form or preparing your written complaint, you can contact us by phone:
- 604-742-6200 (Metro Vancouver) or
- toll-free 1-866-880-7101 (within Canada)
Submitting the complaint
- How to submit
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Once completed, send your complaint form or written submission to BCCNM by:
- Email: complaints@bccnm.ca
- Mail: BC College of Nurses and Midwives
- 900 – 200 Granville Street
- Vancouver, BC V6C 1S4
- Fax: 604-620-1999
- If you cannot use the form
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If you are unable to use the complaint form, you may instead write to us directly, at the contact information above. Please include as much detail as possible, along with your contact information, so that we can reach you if clarification is needed.
- What happens next
- Once we receive your written complaint, it will be reviewed by our intake team.
- If you submit your complaint by email, you will receive an automatic confirmation email.
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If you submit it by mail or fax, your complaint will be entered into our system.
Our goal is for a staff member to contact you within 10–15 business days to confirm receipt of your complaint
Request any additional information that may be needed
Explain the next steps in the complaints process
Important notes
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Our staff can explain the complaints process but cannot provide legal advice.
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In almost all cases, the information you provide, including your written complaint, will be shared with the licensee named, as required under the
Health Professions and Occupations Act. It may also be shared with other relevant parties if needed to carry out our review.
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Although most written complaints are resolved without a discipline hearing, information provided to or obtained by BCCNM during an investigation may become public if a hear ing is required.