Former nurse at Windsor Assembly Plant faces sexual misconduct allegations
A former nurse who worked at the Windsor Assembly Plant is scheduled for a professional misconduct hearing next month due to allegations of inappropriate touching, sexual advances and more.
According to a notice by the College of Nurses of Ontario, the hearing stems from complaints about the nurse, who is male, from one female worker/patient and three female nurse colleagues.
The allegations involve incidents at the manufacturing facility between June 2020 and March 2021, while the man was employed there as a registered nurse.
The CNO's database shows that the subject first registered as a nurse in 1982. He resigned his registration in December 2021.
CNO spokesperson Kristi Green stated that the college "has continuing jurisdiction for professional misconduct or incompetence for the time when the person was a member."
Penalties that the CNO's discipline committee can level include:
A fine of up to $35,000.
A program of therapy or counselling, for which the subject must reimburse the college.
A requirement that the subject notify employers of the college's decision.
An oral reprimand.
"As well, if CNO is aware that a nurse is registered by another regulatory body, we notify that body of any discipline committee order," Green stated.
Records show the man has an active Michigan nursing licence that expires later this year.
Public protection and public confidence in CNO's ability to regulate nurses are considerations in disciplinary measures, Green added. "Discipline committee orders are intended to address specific deterrence, general deterrence, and, when appropriate, rehabilitation and remediation."
A sign at the College of Nurses of Ontario building. (Meagan Fitzpatrick/CBC)
The Windsor Assembly Plant employs a team of registered nurses to provide health care for its thousands of workers. In 2017, that team numbered 16, three of them full-time.
Stellantis declined to comment on the CNO's proceedings.
According to the hearing notice, the female patient alleged that the male nurse rubbed her neck "for longer than clinically necessary," and also rubbed rubbed her shoulders, back, and arms "when such touching was not of a clinical nature appropriate to the service provided."
The patient further alleged that the day after the incident, the man asked for her home address, asked to meet with her outside of work, "called her cute," and texted her personal phone "without clinical purpose."
The complaints from the man's nursing colleagues were of a similar nature.
One female nurse alleged that the man hugged her without her consent on multiple occasions, and he had an erection "on at least one of those occasions."
She also alleged that he asked if she wanted a "friends with benefits" relationship with him, and she had to repeatedly rebuff his requests to spend time with her outside of work.
Another female nurse complained that the man "made comments about the bodies and/or appearances of women," told her an inappropriate story about "a woman who flashed her breasts," and sent her text messages "of a personal nature," including a message about "being in bed while texting."
A third nurse complainant said the man grabbed and squeezed her upper thigh in one incident in March 2021.
According to the college, the behaviour in the allegations constitutes "disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct."
The hearing is set to take place virtually on Feb. 26.
"At the College of Nurses of Ontario, our purpose is to protect the public by promoting safe nursing practice," Green stated.
"This purpose is central to all our regulatory functions, including responding to concerns about a nurse's conduct, competence, and health."
