2 B.C. nurses punished for 'diverting narcotics'

Two B.C. nurses were disciplined by their professional college this week for diverting narcotics from their workplaces.
The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives posted the consent agreements with the two registered nurses on its website this week. There is no indication that the cases are related, and limited details about each one have been provided, reflecting the nurses' rights to keep their personal health information private.
Neither nurse is named, nor is their age, gender or place of work specified.
The first consent agreement was accepted by the college's inquiry committee on Nov. 20.
"The concerns giving rise to the complaint included the registrant diverting medication, including narcotics, from the employer, and falsification of records in order to conceal the diversion activities," a summary of the agreement on the BCCNM website reads.
Under the consent agreement, the nurse agreed to limits on their practice "designed to prevent the circumstances leading to the practice concern from reoccurring."
"The registrant provided an independent medical assessment documenting health concerns to BCCNM which could impact their ability to provide safe patient care," the summary reads. "The independent medical assessment identified the registrant as fit to practice nursing, and they provided information regarding compliance with treatment recommendations."
The consent agreement will remain in place for a minimum of three years, according to the college.
The second case saw a consent agreement accepted by the college's inquiry committee on Nov. 21.
The complaint in this case also involved a registered nurse "diverting narcotics medication from the workplace." The nurse was also accused of "being impaired at work" and "attempting to engage a client in an effort to obscure diversion activities," according to a summary of the consent agreement.
This nurse, too, provided an independent medical assessment regarding a health concern, and agreed to limits on their practice.
The nurse was given a reprimand and "a limit on narcotics access and handling, designed to prevent the risk of reoccurring circumstances that led to the practice concern."
The consent agreement will remain in place for four years, according to the college.
"The inquiry committee is satisfied that the terms will protect the public," both summaries conclude.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tyre Nichols' brutal beating by police shown on video
Memphis authorities released video footage Friday showing Tyre Nichols being beaten by police officers who held the Black motorist down and repeatedly struck him with their fists, boots and batons as he screamed for his mother and pleaded, ''I'm just trying to go home.'

CRA head says it 'wouldn't be worth the effort' to review all ineligible pandemic payments
The head of the Canada Revenue Agency says it 'wouldn't be worth the effort' to fully review $15.5 billion in potentially ineligible pandemic wage benefit payments flagged by Canada's Auditor General.
Lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan fulfils dream of seeing first game, passes away next day
Mike Davy always dreamed of going to a Toronto Maple Leafs game, and once it finally happened, he passed away the night after.
'This is too much': B.C. mom records police handcuffing 12-year-old in hospital
A review has been launched after police officers were recorded restraining a handcuffed Indigenous child on the floor of a Vancouver hospital – an incident the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has denounced as "horrendous."
WHO decision on COVID-19 emergency won't affect Canada's response: Tam
The World Health Organization will announce Monday whether it thinks COVID-19 still represents a global health emergency but Canada's top doctor says regardless of what the international body decides, Canada's response to the coronavirus will not change.
Canadian university faculty getting older, more female compared to 50 years ago: StatCan
Canadian university professors are mostly older and increasingly more female compared to 50 years ago, a new report from Statistics Canada has found.
Canadian Hyundai vehicles unaffected by theft issue in the U.S., company says
Hyundai cars in Canada don't have the same anti-theft issue compared to those in the United States, a company spokesperson says, following reports that two American auto insurers are refusing to write policies for older models.
Grizzlies, other NBA teams speak out on Tyre Nichols' death
The outrage, frustration, sadness and anger was evident around the NBA on Friday, the day that video was released showing how Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was killed by five Memphis police officers. Several teams released statements of support for the family, as did the National Basketball Players Association.
Video shows struggle for hammer during Pelosi attack
Video released publicly Friday shows the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struggling with his assailant for control of a hammer moments before he was struck in the head during a brutal attack in the couple's San Francisco home last year.