how easy it is to lose your license in Ontario

Fiona59 · Jan 9, 2011

Are you a union member? Have you killed someone?

For med errors, failure to remove patches, etc., there is usually a report written and then you are "counselled".

Multiple repeats of the same issue, gets you more sessions with your manager. Usually the union gets involved.

It's not easy to lose a practice permit in Canada. It can be done but usually the permits are suspended while remedial workshops, etc are taken. I've heard of it happening for use of the patients credit/debit cards or diverting narcotics for personal use.

Sloppy use of skills is documented and can and will lead to termination of employment

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jan 9, 2011

It's not quite as easy to lose one's license as most people think. You have to do something really heinous, like steal from patients or your employer, routinely demonstrate unskilled practice, be convicted of a criminal act or other such nasty thing. A single med error or incorrect narcotics count isn't enough. The employer would have to document a pattern of unskilled practice over a period of time before they would have enough to file a complaint with the College. However, if at any time a nurse is suspended or terminated for cause, the employer must also notify the College which will then do its own investigation into the person's behaviour and make their own ruling. And generally speaking, in order for the employer to have cause, there has to be a pattern of failure to demonstrate skilled practice, documentation of attempts to correct the performance issues and evidence that the nurse has not improved.

RescueNinja · Jan 17, 2011

You can access a PDF version of the CNO's publication (The Standard) on their website and it has discipline rulings in the back. I'm often shocked that many of the nurses listed in the magazine do not lose their license. I've only seen one where it was revoked and it was for premeditated sexual harassment/rape of an underage psych pt...

ohchanty · Sep 22, 2011

I am a new RPN practicing in Ontario. I work at a LTC and there is a great deal of documentation to get done. Someone told me the other day it's almost impossible to get everything done that you need to. I know I need to be diligent in my practice and I cannot be careless regardless of how tired I am because being a nurse means so much to me. It was a Monday, and on Monday's we have morning meeting. So before we can even go to the meeting, we have to administer all of our medications. That day, I was supposed to change a catheter and it was supposed to be documented appropriately in the TARS. For some reason, I did not sign my TARS that day and came back in the next day to sign them for all of my patients. I suppose I mistakenly signed for the patient with the catheter order though I did not change it. I remember telling the evening nurse that I was unable to do it and was wondering if she could. So the nurse manager called me today asking me if I did and I said I did not. She said she saw what looked to be my signature and said she would have to talk to the director of care. Is this grounds for dismissal? Will I lose my job or my nursing licence? I have a great deal of anxiety about this and do my best everyday at work and know that there is so much to do. Any suggestions on how to get everything done so that this doesn't happen? Any ideas of whether or not I will get reprimanded for this?

Thanks....