B.C. nurse suspended 12 months for sexual relationship with client

A nurse holds a tablet in this stock image from Shutterstock.

A B.C. nurse’s registration has been suspended for 12 months as discipline for a sexual relationship the worker had with a client, according to the regulatory body.

The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives described the relationship, which happened between July and September of 2023, as “personal and sexual.”

The nurse, who is not named in the consent agreement reached with the college earlier this week due to privacy regulations, “documented that at the time of the conduct, they suffered from a health condition that was a factor in their conduct,” reads an online summary.

“Intimate” relationships between nurses and clients are prohibited, even if they are consensual, the college said, adding that a breach of professional boundaries can harm the patient.

“The nurse-client relationship is the foundation of nursing practice across all populations and cultures and in all practice settings. It is therapeutic and focuses on the needs of the client. It is based on trust, respect and professional intimacy, and it requires the appropriate use of authority,” the summary reads.

According to the college, the nurse agreed to have their registration suspended for 12 months and a six-month ban on working in community nursing. If they return to the job, the nurse will be required to be “followed by” a counsellor for a year.

“The inquiry committee is satisfied that the terms will address the professional and practice concerns that arose and will protect the public,” the BCCNM wrote.