British Columbia nurse suspended 3 days for drinking on shift and exercising under the influence

A nurse was suspended for three days for working under the influence of alcohol.

According to the BC College for Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), the practical nurse, who has not been named, drank alcohol during her shift and was working “under the influence of alcohol.”

The incident occurred on August 9, 2023, and the nurse was punished on July 2, 2024.

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According to BCCNM, the nurse “admitted to having a disability,” the name of which was not disclosed by the university.

The disability “has a causal link” with the nurse’s drinking, the regulator said in a public bulletin, citing an “independent medical report”.

The nurse will be suspended for three days, monitored for substance use and will not be allowed to work overtime or supervise certain employees.

BCCNM justified its decision not to release the nurse’s name by citing the Health Professions Act. The name was withheld “in order not to disclose the registrant or their personal health information regarding a condition that impaired their ability to practice as a nurse or midwife.”