Two BC nurses have been publicly reprimanded for two separate incidents that happened last year.
According to a decision from the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) published on May 13, Nadia Ali, a registered nurse from Burnaby, has had her registration suspended for two weeks.
The decision says Ali’s reprimand and suspension are due to “conduct issues” that happened between May and August 2023.
The issues were “related to privacy breaches when she accessed confidential health records of a significant number of patients through the health authority's computer system unrelated to her assigned patients and without a work-related purpose.”
Ali voluntarily agreed to the two-week suspension and a reprimand for breaching patient privacy and confidentiality. Additionally, she agreed to take remedial education on the matter.
The decision says she also agreed to a “regulatory practice consultation” to address the “foundational” issues that led to the consent agreement with the BCCNM.
In another decision, Deborah Leitch, a licensed practical nurse of Pitt Meadows, entered into a consent agreement with the BCCNM on May 16 to address “practice issues” that happened between February and July 2023 involving vulnerable patients.
According to the decision, Leitch reportedly engaged “in verbal exchanges with vulnerable residents in a manner that escalated their responsive behaviours and was contrary to what was directed in their Care Plans.”
Additionally, the BCCNM says she breached confidentiality requirements during the investigation by contacting and “intimidating” a witness and distributing a confidential document.
Leitch agreed to a one-year limit prohibiting her from carrying an assignment where 51% or more of the patients have psychiatric, mental health, behavioural, or memory care issues.
She also agreed to a public reprimand and to take remedial education in documentation, communication and respectful workplaces.
An inquiry committee believes the terms for both nurses will “protect the public” and was satisfied with the terms in each agreement.
