B.C. nurse suspended 3 weeks for accessing confidential information, other ‘practice and conduct issues’

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

A B.C. nurse has been suspended for three weeks over a variety of “practice and conduct issues,” according to the college that regulates the profession in the province.

Marilyn Mallari-Harteveld entered a consent agreement with the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives to address the issues last week. A summary of the document was published on the college’s website this week.

According to the summary, Mallari-Harteveld’s practice and conduct issues included “acting without client-specific orders, inappropriate use and access of colleagues’ confidential information when not in a care relationship, and inappropriate communicable disease prevention and control methods.”

The conduct was “unsatisfactory,” the summary says, listing a variety of BCCNM standards that Mallari-Harteveld failed to meet, including those related to scope of practice, boundaries, preventing nurse to client disease transmission, consent, ethical practice, knowledge-based practice and professional responsibility and accountability.

“BCCNM standards set expectations to ensure nurses are practising competently, ethically, responsibly and safely,” the summary reads. “Nurses are accountable for their nursing decisions, actions and professional conduct. Nurses must meet these standards in providing care to patients.”

The summary does not say when Mallari-Harteveld’s conduct issues occurred or list any specific details about what transpired.

The BCCNM’s online directory lists her as a practising registered nurse whose primary employer is Maple Ridge Seniors Village. Her record shows no other discipline issues over the last decade, though previous conditions on her licence are listed as expiring in 2014.

Mallari-Harteveld agreed to a three-week suspension of her registration to address her breaches of BCCNM standards, according to the summary.

“The Inquiry Committee is satisfied that the terms will address the issues and protect the public,” it concludes.