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It’s the first time the association has laid such charges against a member for comments made on social media.

Under the provincial Registered Nurses Act, professional misconduct refers to any matter, conduct or thing “that is contrary to the best interests of the public or nurses or tends to harm the standing of the profession of nursing.”

In a public notice about Strom’s charges, the SRNA argues Strom violated the provincial Health Information Protection Act by disclosing her grandfather’s confidential health information online, failed to raise her concerns with the appropriate people and tarnished the reputations of St. Joseph’s and its staff. Because Strom identified herself as a registered nurse in her post, she “engage(d) the professional image of registered nurses in general as well as (her) personal professional obligations,” SRNA said in the hearing notice.

“You have failed to protect your integrity and your profession’s integrity when you used inappropriate communication channels to discuss, report and resolve workplace issues,” the notice continues.

Strom said she was “shocked” by the charges.

Is this going to hinder future family members, who just happen to be health-care workers, from advocating for their family members for fear of retribution?

“What worries me about this is: Is this going to hinder future family members, who just happen to be health-care workers, from advocating for their family members for fear of retribution from the SRNA?” she asked. “It bothers me.”

SRNA conducted an investigation into the incident and asked Strom to enter into a consensual resolution agreement. Strom said she was asked to complete an online nursing ethics course, write essays on nursing ethics and sign a statement of facts that said she didn’t recognize the impact her post could have on morale of St. Joseph’s staff and that staff at the centre felt “intimidated” by her post.