A disciplinary committee has ruled that a Campbell River nurse is guilty of falsifying records and diverting “significant” amounts of pain medications away from patients.
The British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) found that Amanda Parniak committed the offences over a six-month period from November 2017 to March 2018 while she was employed at Campbell River Hospital.
Parniak diverted doses of hydromorphone, a powerful opioid pain medication, from at least 10 different patients at the hospital, falsifying records and creating false requests in the process.
An investigation found that Parniak had diverted hydromorphone in over 100 incidents.
The BCCNP also found that in the course of these incidents, Parniak accessed private patient records and falsified their medical documentation.
“Ms. Parniak’s falsification of patient medical records created serious risks to patient safety and continuity of care,” the disciplinary committee wrote in their ruling.
They cited an example of a patient complaining of pain who was delayed in receiving his medication, which caused confusion among hospital staff, including the nurse who was caring for the patient.
“Ms. Parniak’s proven conduct, when taken together, represents a pattern of professional misconduct which is disgraceful, dishonourable and unbecoming of a member of the profession,” the BCCNP added.
The disciplinary panel is currently reviewing proposed penalties and costs for Parniak’s actions.
