A nurse fined $26,000 for publicly criticizing her grandfather’s treatment will be appealing the penalty.
Carolyn Strom plans to appeal the fine handed down last week by the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association.
The Prince Albert nurse was found guilty last October of professional misconduct by an SRNA disciplinary committee. The committee ruled she violated the registered nurses’ act when, in February 2015, she posted on Facebook about what she called the “subpar” treatment of her grandfather in a long-term care facility in Macklin, Sask.
She violated the act by harming the reputation of nursing staff at the facility and undermining the public’s confidence in the staff, the committee ruled. She also did not use the appropriate channels to bring forward her complaints or conduct herself professionally when using social media, the ruling stated.
Most of the fine — $25,000 of the $26,000 — is meant to refund the SRNA for the costs of the investigation into her post and the resulting hearings.
The association’s decision document states Strom must pay the $25,000 penalty by April 1, 2020, and the $1,000 fine by July 1 of this year.
She must also complete Canadian Nurses Association’s code of ethics training as well as review the code and nurse standards policies — and write self-reflective essays on each — if she is to continue practicing as a nurse, the decision states.
The case is not criminal in nature.
