B.C.’s College of Nurses and Midwives has suspended a nurse for four months as a result of medication errors and subsequent behaviour.
On Nov. 3, a college inquiry panel approved a consent order with Bionic Nicolas to address issues related to an April 14, 2022 incident. The incident relates to unsafe medication practices — which resulted in a medication error involving several medications — and being dishonest with the employer, a colleague and a patient about the matter.
The agreement said Nicolas voluntarily agreed to a reprimand and four-month suspension, and supervision of their nursing practice for two years.
Also agreed to was a two-year limit prohibiting them from multiple employers, being the sole registered nurse on duty, assuming the charge role duties, working overtime or supervising students or staff.
Nicolas must also undertake counselling sessions focusing on issues regarding truthfulness and accountability in a professional context.
The college is one of 18 regulatory bodies empowered under the Health Professions Act to regulate health professions in B.C. It regulates the practice of four distinct professions: nursing, practical nursing, psychiatric nursing and midwifery.
Similar legislation in other self-regulated areas such as the legal and notary public professions also allows citizens to know about discipline issues in the public interest.
“The inquiry committee is satisfied that the terms will protect the public,” the college said.