On March 25, 2013, Seanna Maher, Registration No. 18288 (the “Respondent”) was found guilty of conduct deserving of sanction pursuant to the Registered Nurses Act, in particular Section 18 (c)(i) and (v). The Adjudication Tribunal ordered suspension of the Respondent’s license for six months effective from October 27, 2012. Following a period of suspension, the Respondent is prohibited from acquiring a license to practice in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador until the terms and conditions of the Order are met to the satisfaction of the ARNNL. The Adjudication Tribunal ordered that the Respondent pay a contribution towards the costs of the ARNNL for its investigation and the hearing of the complaint in the amount of $6,000.
Decision Summary
In the matter of a Complaint against Seanna Maher (the “Respondent”), Registrant # 18288, and a hearing of the Complaint pursuant to Section 25 of the Registered Nurses Act, 2008 (the “Act”); an Adjudication Tribunal of the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARNNL) in a Decision dated March 25, 2013, found the Respondent guilty of conduct deserving of sanction pursuant to the Act, in particular, the following sections:
- 18 (c)(i) professional misconduct, and 18 (c)(v) acting in breach of the Code of Ethics, in that the Respondent tampered with a medication, such that she replaced the medication Lorazepam with a high concentration of Acetaminophen; and 18 (c)(i) professional misconduct, and
- 18 (c)(v) acting in breach of the Code of Ethics, in that the Respondent placed a patient at risk of serious harm, having tampered with a medication, by replacing Lorazepam with a high concentration of Acetaminophen.
The conduct deserving of sanction occurred on July 5, 2011 while the Respondent practiced as a registered nurse at the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Complainants were Eastern Health and a registered nurse.
Pursuant to section 28(3) of the Act, the Adjudication Tribunal ordered suspension of the Respondent’s license for six months effective from October 27, 2012. Following the period of suspension, the Respondent is prohibited from acquiring a license to practice nursing in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador until the following terms and conditions are met to the satisfaction of the ARNNL:
- The Respondent shall provide a supportive health assessment addressing her health in relation to her ability to practice as a registered nurse;
- The Respondent shall provide a report from her family physician regarding her wellness to return to the practice of nursing;
- The Respondent shall successfully complete the Canadian Nurses Association’s learning module on the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses;
- The Respondent shall successfully complete the Jurisprudence module through the Continuing Nursing Education Portal at Practice NL;
- The Respondent shall successfully complete a paper referencing the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses and how her conduct violated the Code with particular attention to the honesty and integrity of registered nurses;
- The Respondent shall satisfactory complete a Nursing Re-entry program, if required, based on the outcomes of the medical assessments; and
- The Respondent shall continue ongoing counseling, as required, with a health care professional, and provide periodic reports, to the Director of Professional Conduct Review, regarding her health status.
The Adjudication Tribunal ordered that the Respondent pay a contribution towards the costs of the ARNNL for its investigation and the hearing of the complaint in the amount of $6,000. The Adjudication Tribunal further ordered that the Registrant shall be permitted to pay this amount by installments.
On October 17, 2012, the practicing license of Seanna Maher, Registration No. 18288, was suspended by ARNNL Council pending a hearing of the Adjudication Tribunal of the Disciplinary Panel.