The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives has disciplined a Victoria nurse for her role in using "inappropriate physical measures on vulnerable elderly patients to gain their compliance," and issues related to "safe medication administration practices."
On May 20, a panel of the college's inquiry committee approved a consent agreement with Melanie Piscia for the issues that occurred between April and September 2024.
According to a news release from the college, Piscia is currently not practicing, and she voluntarily agreed to three terms limiting her practice if she reinstates her registration.
In the terms the panel reached, Piscia will be reprimanded and her registration will be suspended for using "inappropriate physical measures" with some of her patients; there will be limits on her nursing registration while she remediates her practice, including working under supervision for a period of time and not being allowed to be a sole nurse on the unit; and there will be remedial education targeted to address knowledge gaps in the domains of ethics and professionalism.
"Nurses are accountable for their nursing decisions, actions, and professional conduct. Nurses must ensure they meet BCCNM practice standards for providing safe nursing care to clients," noted a notice from the college. "Nurses are expected to care for all patients ethically and to respect and protect patients' worth and dignity."
