B.C.’s College of Nurse and Midwives has suspended a Quesnel nurse for not adhering to care plans for vulnerable patients.
In a newly released July 6 decision, the college said Patsy Perkull is to be suspended for five days due to practice issues that occurred between April 17-20, 2022 in relation to two separate incidents.
A college inquiry committee found Perkull did not provide pertinent and relevant patient information to a physician when seeking directions and orders related to the care of vulnerable patients certified under the Mental Health Act.
And, the committee found, Perkull acted contrary to the patients' plans of care, and that her actions “served to undermine the multi-disciplinary team approach to safe, ethical, and competent care for vulnerable patients.”
The regulatory body also found Perkull engaged in unprofessional communication while at work by disparaging colleagues.
In addition to the suspension, Perkull must also take remedial education on interpersonal conflict in the workplace, interdisciplinary care planning, understanding the scope of registered nurses’ practice, and professional standards for such nurses.
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 said it was satisfied that the terms would protect the public.
