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Allegations and Plea

The College alleged that the Member was found guilty of criminal offences relevant to his suitability to practise, namely fraud over $5,000 and uttering forged documents; that he lied about his academic credentials and employment history on a number of job applications; that he altered police reference checks; that he provided false contact information for references and attempted to impersonate them in telephone conversations; that he held himself out as a nurse while his certificate of registration was suspended; and that this conduct would be regarded as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.

The Member admitted to the allegations, and the College and the Member jointly submitted the following facts.

Agreed Facts

The Member’s certificate of registration was suspended for non-payment of fees from April 24 to June 4, 2003, and from March 11, 2010, to September 26, 2012, when he voluntarily surrendered his certificate.

In October 2008, July 2009 and May 2010, the Member applied for jobs at three different facilities. He used the Registered Nurse title on all three applications, including the one submitted while his certificate was suspended. He also falsified his academic credentials by claiming to have Master’s degrees when he did not. Pursuant to a request from one of the facilities, the Member provided altered police reference checks indicating there were no outstanding charges when there were. In another, he altered it to show that he had not been convicted when he had been found guilty of the offences in question more than three months earlier.

The Member falsified his work history on two of the applications, gave false contact information for references and attempted to impersonate the references in telephone conversations.

In February 2009, the Member pled guilty to fraud over $5,000 and uttering forged documents. He had been charged for submitting false claims for reimbursement to his health insurer. The Member was also charged with using forged prescriptions from a drugstore. He did not self-report the findings of guilt to the College.

Finding

The Panel found that the evidence clearly supported findings of professional misconduct as alleged, including that the Member’s conduct would be considered disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional. The Member persistently displayed dishonesty and lack of integrity over time. He engaged in a wide range of misconduct. His repeated behaviours bring shame to the profession.

Submissions on Order

The College and the Member jointly sought an oral reprimand and a six-month suspension. The Member would be required to complete specified remediation activities in preparation for a series of meetings with a nursing expert. For 24 months from the date the Member obtains an active certificate of registration, he would be required to advise the College of his employers, provide employers with a copy of the Panel’s decision and reasons, and only practise for an employer who agreed to advise the College if the Member breached the standards of practice of the profession.

Panel Order

The Panel accepted the joint submission as reasonable and in the public interest. The Member accepted responsibility for his actions and cooperated with the College by agreeing to the facts and proposed penalty.

 The order provides specific and general deterrence, protection of the public interest and assurance that public trust in the profession will be maintained.

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