B.C.’s College of Nurses and Midwives has reprimanded a Delta nurse for issues involving medication, documentation and communication.
A March 12 public notice said the college inquiry committee had approved a consent agreement with registered nurse Kimberly Barrett to deal with practice issues that had been identified between November 2021 and March 2023.
The notice said issues related to poor practice in the areas of medication administration, documentation, communication with the interprofessional team, adhering to institution policies, and support and supervision of health-care assistants.
The college also noted there was an incident where Barrett attempted to divert medication from a clinic where she was a learner in a practicum setting.
The college said Barrett has voluntarily agreed to:
• a suspension of her nursing registration for three weeks for the attempted diversion of medication during their nurse practitioner period;
• a limit prohibiting them from being the sole registered nurse on duty and supervising nursing students and new learners;
• remedial education in medication administration, documentation, professional responsibility and ethics and communication;
• indirect supervision of their nursing practice; and,
• developing a learning plan which will be shared with their employer.
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.
