A Richmond nurse has agreed to stop practising in B.C. after admitting a catalogue of mistreatment, including suspending a patient from a lift to promote a bowel movement and leaving them there.
Ma Eriberta Lauang agreed with the BC College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) to give up her registration during the investigation, meaning she is not entitled to work as a nurse in B.C.
Lauang (AKA Rojano), now a former registered nurse (RN), admitted in a consent agreement that, at one facility, she inserted a nasograstric tube, contrary to her approved role and then providing a false account of permissions in this regard.
At the same facility, she suspended a patient from a lift to promote a bowel movement, “contrary to appropriate care, and leaving the patient unsupervised in the lift and documented that appropriate bowel protocol had been followed.”
On various occasions, she failed “to respond to call bells” and failed to “feed and care for patients as required on nightshift” and directed “other staff to do the same.”
Lauang also failed to adhere to appropriate narcotic handling and administration practices.
At another facility, she was caught sleeping at a client's home during nightshift, while on duty, and prepared doses of pain-killing drug hydromorphone in excess of what was ordered for one patient.
Lauang then breached an interim undertaking with BCCNP, which was meant to protect the public during investigation, by failing to notify the organization of her new employment for several months.
She also inaccurately reported practice hours to BCCNP.
The aforementioned conduct took place in April 2016 and from May 2018 to July 2019.
The Richmond News asked the BCCNP to name the facilities in question. However, a spokesperson said, as part of the consent agreement, they are not able to release any more details.
An RN of the same name claims on her LinkedIn page to have worked at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver since 2006, where she was “primarily in the surgical department” and mentored new staff, as well as being responsible for “pre- and post-operative care.”
However, a spokesperson for Providence Health Care, which runs the hospital, refused to confirm Lauang works or worked there, citing privacy reasons.
The disciplinary notice stated that Lauang relinquished her registration during the investigation and has agreed to the cancellation of her registration and not to reapply for at least five years.
Should she apply for reinstatement in the future, she will be required to meet the registration requirements of “character, competence and fitness,” according to the BCCNP.
It doesn’t appear to be the first time Lauang has fallen foul of her regulatory body.
In 2014, she was called to the disciplinary panel of the same organization for “breaching professional standards related to professional boundaries.” No details are given to the nature of the misconduct or what the penalty was.
