On July 1, 2020, Melanie Smith, Registrant #17886 met all the terms and conditions of the Decision Order of an Adjudication Tribunal dated November 14, 2017.
On February 28, 2018, Melanie Smith, No. 17886 met the terms and conditions of the Order of an Adjudication Tribunal dated November 14, 2017, such that effective March 1, 2018 she is eligible to apply for a practicing license.
On August 29, 2017, an Adjudication Tribunal found Melanie Smith, Registration No. 17886, guilty of conduct deserving of sanction under the Registered Nurses Act, 2008, sections 18(c)(i) professional misconduct, 18(c)(ii) professional incompetence, and 18(c)(v) acting in breach of the Code of Ethics.
Decision Summary
In the matter of a Complaint against Melanie Smith, Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador, Registrant #17886 (the “Respondent”) an Adjudication Tribunal hearing the Complaint accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts in which the Respondent admitted she had engaged in conduct deserving of sanction under the Registered Nurses Act, 2008 (the “Act”) sections 18(c)(i) professional misconduct, 18(c)(ii) professional incompetence and 18(c)(v) acting in breach of the Code of Ethics. The Adjudication Tribunal determined that the Respondent engaged in conduct deserving of sanction in that she engaged in conversations, via social media, with a patient that were inappropriate and breached the Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses (2013) and the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2013), including, providing medical direction, making comments regarding other health care professionals, breaching patient privacy and failing to protect a vulnerable member of society.
The Adjudication Tribunal accepted a Joint Submission on Penalty and pursuant to section 28(3) of the Act in a Decision dated November 14, 2017 (the “Decision”), ordered that the Respondent’s license be suspended for six months from the date of the hearing; to successfully complete specified nursing education; prepare a self-reflection paper to discuss her learnings, and meet with a Nursing Consultant – Policy and Practice, ARNNL. The Adjudication Tribunal further ordered that the Respondent pay ARNNL 25% of costs incurred in the investigation and hearing of the Complaint.
The conduct deserving of sanction occurred during the period from or about May 2016 to or about August 2016 while the Respondent practiced as a registered nurse at the Grace Centre, Adult Addictions Treatment Centre, Harbour Grace. The Complainants were a member of the public and Eastern Health.