Skip to content

B.C. nurse failed to adhere to medication standards, college finds

A Nanaimo nurse has been suspended for six weeks and must take remedial education.
nursesdoctorsinhallway
Midwives in B.C. are regulated by the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives.

The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives has suspended a Nanaimo nurse for six weeks after finding problems with her medication practice standards.

On Oct. 7, a college inquiry committee panel approved an agreement with Jennifer Smith to address practice issues that occurred between May 4 and Oct. 9, 2022.

A college public notice said the issues related to Smith’s failure to adhere to the medication administration and documentation practice standards.

The panel said Smith has voluntarily agreed to limits or conditions on her practice, including:

• suspension of their nursing registration for six weeks; 

• supervision in the workplace and remedial education in professional responsibility and accountability, clinical decision-making, ethics, documentation, and medication administration.

The college is currently 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.