In a decision dated November 29, 2022, the NANB Discipline Committee found that Rachel Lynn Van Beelen, registration number 026417, took advantage of her trusted position as a Registered Nurse and abused her authority in accessing the medical files of 587 individuals, including herself, patients who were not assigned to her care, co-workers, family members, a friend, and COVID-19 unit patients, without consent, authorization, or clinical purpose to do so. Furthermore, the Committee found that Ms. Van Beelen did not demonstrate sufficient understanding of the seriousness of her misconduct, and did not demonstrate adequate insight or accountability for her actions. The Committee found that Ms. Van Beelen violated the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, the NANB Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses, the NANB Standards for the Nurse-Client Relationship, the Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act, and her employer’s privacy policies.
The Discipline Committee ordered that the suspension of Ms. Van Beelen’s registration by the Complaints Committee on November 9, 2020, be continued until specific conditions are met. When those conditions are met, Ms. Van Beelen will be eligible for a conditional registration.
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