Discipline Decisions

From time to time, the College of Nursing of New Brunswick receives reports that individuals who are not a Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) who may be seeking employment or holding themselves out as persons qualified to practise in New Brunswick.

Employers are strongly encouraged to use Find a Nurse to verify the membership status of every RN or NP they employ directly or through an agency.

The following names represent only those individuals who have come to the attention of the College. Contact the College at reg-imm@cnnb-opinb.ca if you are aware of any of these individuals actively seeking employment or working in the nursing profession.

• Donna Collins
• Carol Lepage

NANB Statement Regarding the Registration Status of Donna Collins

NANB frequently receives inquiries regarding the registration status of Donna Collins. Donna Collins was actively registered with NANB as a Registered Nurse from 2000–2012 and as a Nurse Practitioner from 2012–2013. Her registration with NANB expired on December 31, 2013, after which she was no longer authorized to practice nursing or use the titles Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP).

Following a disciplinary hearing on November 22, 2017, Ms. Collins was reprimanded by the Discipline Committee and issued a fine for improper use of actual and fictitious nursing designations such as RN, NP, “RN+” and “DNP”, while not being a registered member of NANB.  Donna Collins has not been registered with NANB since December 31, 2013. She is not authorized to practice nursing in New Brunswick, to hold herself out as a person authorized to practice nursing, or to use such designations.

Discipline Committee Decision Summary

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In a decision dated November 3, 2023, a panel of the NANB Discipline Committee accepted the Alternate Complaint Resolution Proposal (“ACRP”) submitted by Patrick Johnston, registration number 030962, to address practice issues related to his failure to adhere to professional practice and nursing standards involving medication management, critical thinking, communication, and organization and prioritization. As a result of the admissions made in the ACRP, the Discipline Committee found that Mr. Johnston made multiple medication administration errors, abandoned his patients by leaving the unit when he was the only RN in charge, failed to communicate a patient’s fall to the physician in a timely manner, failed to properly prioritize his nursing tasks, and failed to communicate efficiently with the care team.

The Discipline Committee ordered that the suspension imposed on Mr. Johnston’s registration by the Complaints Committee in a decision dated November 17, 2021, be continued until specific conditions are met.  When those conditions are met, Mr. Johnston will be eligible to apply for a conditional registration.

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On October 23, 2023, the NANB Complaints Committee suspended the registration of Annette Theriault, registration number 023844, pending the outcome of proceedings before the NANB Fitness to Practice (Review) Committee.

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In a decision dated August 15, 2023, a panel of the NANB Discipline Committee accepted the Alternate Complaint Resolution Proposal (“ACRP”) submitted by Eric Tande Lawaza, Registration Number 030439, to address practice issues related to his failure to adhere to professional practice and nursing standards involving medication management, documentation, patient assessments, and communication.  As a result of the admissions made in the ACRP, the Discipline Committee found that Mr. Lawaza made medication errors, prepared inaccurate and/or incomplete documentation and failed to document his observations, complete an incident report in a timely manner, change a patient’s catheter, get a coworker to co-sign the wastage of narcotics, properly identify a specimen, ensure that a patient’s call bell was within the patient’s reach, call a patient’s family member when the palliative care protocol was initiated, and ensure a vulnerable patient’s safety by leaving a soiled needle by his bedside.

The Discipline Committee ordered that the suspension of Mr. Lawaza’s registration imposed by the Complaints Committee on November 19, 2021, be continued until specific conditions are met.  When those conditions are met, Mr. Lawaza will be eligible to apply for a conditional registration.

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In a decision dated August 8, 2023, a panel NANB Discipline Committee accepted the Alternate Complaint Resolution Proposal (“ACRP”) submitted by Elaine Bourdages, Registration Number 020817. As a result of the admissions made in the ACRP, the Discipline Committee found that Ms. Bourdages failed to adhere to professional practice and nursing standards involving medication management, professional communication (including with psychiatry patients), documentation, critical thinking, and wound care. Ms. Bourdages admitted that her conduct was unbecoming of a Registered Nurse and that it was contrary to the Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses and the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses.

The Discipline Committee ordered that the suspension of Ms. Bourdages’ registration imposed by the Complaints Committee on January 11, 2021, be continued until specific conditions are met.  When those conditions are met, Ms. Bourdages will be eligible to apply for a conditional registration.

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In a decision dated July 18, 2023, a panel of the NANB Discipline Committee accepted the Alternate Complaint Resolution Proposal (“ACRP”) submitted by Nathalie Cyr, Registration Number 028497.  Ms. Cyr admitted to having accessed, intentionally and without authorization, the electronic records of 79 patients on 88 occasions between December 22, 2020 and March 22, 2021, of which 51 were co-workers and staff and the remaining 28 were members of the community, and admitted to being dishonest when she was confronted by her employer.  Ms. Cyr admitted to violating the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, the NANB Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses, and her employer’s privacy policies.

The Discipline Committee reprimanded Ms. Cyr for her professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming a nurse, dishonesty, failure to respect patients’ right to privacy and violation of the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, the NANB Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses, and NANB Standards for the Nurse-Client Relationship. The Discipline Committee ordered that the suspension of Ms. Cyr’s registration imposed by the Complaints Committee on November 22, 2021, be continued until specific conditions are met.  When those conditions are met, Ms. Cyr will be eligible to apply for a conditional registration.

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In a decision dated June 29, 2023, a panel of the NANB Discipline Committee accepted the Alternate Complaint Resolution Proposal (“ACRP”) submitted by Samantha Girard-Légère, Registration Number 031101.  As a result of the admissions made in the ACRP, the panel of the Discipline Committee found that Ms. Girard-Légère failed to adhere to professional and practice nursing standards involving medication management (including IV medications), communication, patient assessments, teamwork, infection control, critical thinking, and documentation.  Ms. Girard-Légère admitted to having engaged in professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming a nurse by demonstrating a lack of professionalism and critical thinking and by failing to follow her employer’s policies.

The Discipline Committee ordered that the suspension of Ms. Girard-Légère’s registration imposed by the Complaints Committee on September 26, 2022, be continued until specific conditions are met.  When those conditions are met, Ms. Girard-Légère will be eligible to apply for a conditional registration.

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On June 5, 2023, the NANB Complaints Committee suspended the registration of Kathryn Rogers, registration number 029798, pending the outcome of proceedings before the NANB Fitness to Practice (Review) Committee.

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On May 15, 2023, the NANB Complaints Committee suspended the registration of Samantha Jones, registration number 027307, pending the outcome of proceedings before the NANB Fitness to Practice (Review) Committee.

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