Under The Registered Nurses Act, 1988, where the Investigation Committee recommends that the discipline committee hear and determine a complaint, a Discipline Hearing will be scheduled. The Discipline Hearing ensures fairness, transparency and accountability when concerns arise about an RN’s competence or conduct. These public, virtual hearings provide an opportunity for both the registrant and the Investigation Committee to present evidence to the Discipline Committee so that they can decide whether the registrant is guilty of professional incompetence and/or misconduct.

Discipline Committee

The Discipline Committee is a statutory committee with their power and authority outlined in The Registered Nurses Act, 1988 and the CRNS bylaws. Council approves the appointment of discipline committee members to serve on panels that hear cases and make decisions regarding allegations of professional incompetence and/or misconduct.

Discipline Hearing Process

• The process follows The Registered Nurses Act, 1988 and CRNS Bylaws.
• Once the Investigation Committee refers a complaint to a Discipline Hearing, a panel of the Discipline Committee which includes five members: four RNs and one public representative, is set.
• The Executive Director & Registrar will post a Notice of Hearing on the CRNS website at least 30 days before the hearing date. This notice includes the charges, hearing date, location and details of the allegation.
• The Discipline Hearing is a legal process where both the CRNS Investigation Committee and the registrant can present their case. The hearing is open to the public and is conducted virtually.
• After the hearing, the Discipline Committee will provide a written decision.
• If the nurse is found guilty of professional incompetence and/or misconduct, a second hearing is held to determine the penalty.
• During the penalty hearing, both the Investigation Committee and the registrant are provided with an opportunity to present submissions regarding penalty.
• After the penalty hearing, the Discipline Committee will provide a written decision.

Note: A guidance document is available for registrants who choose to represent themselves, without legal counsel in the discipline hearing. See the Discipline Process & Hearing Information for Self-Represented Persons document.

Upcoming Hearings

Discipline hearings are open to the public and take place virtually.

Approximately three  weeks in advance of the hearing, a Hearing Attendance Request link will be posted below to request attendance as a member of the gallery. Members of the gallery join by phone and are not allowed to participate.

View the list of upcoming hearings below for more information.

Discipline Decisions

Written decision of the CRNS’s Discipline Committee and the reasons for these decisions are available to the public and the registrants below.

Appeals

A registrant can appeal the Discipline Committee's written decision, within 30 days of the decision to the CRNS Council or the Court of King’s Bench. Scheduled appeal hearing dates and decisions will be posted above.

Penalties

Where the Discipline Committee finds a registrant guilty of professional incompetence and/or misconduct, it may issue one or more of the following orders, as set out in The Registered Nurses Act, 1988:

• Expulsion;
• Suspension;
• Practice conditions and/or restrictions;
• Reprimand;
• Order the registrant to obtain treatment, counselling or both;
• Fine and/or payment of costs of the investigation and the discipline hearing; and,
• Any other order deemed just.