Tribunal reprimands nurse and imposed conditions on her registration

29 Jan 2016

A tribunal has reprimanded a nurse and imposed conditions on the nurse's registration requiring her to undertake further education and training, and meet additional supervision requirements.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) referred the nurse to the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia (the tribunal), alleging that in 2013 and 2014 they failed to practise the nursing profession in a safe and competent manner and may have placed patients under their care at risk of harm, by:

• failing to follow orders from senior staff on several occasions
• administering medication to a patient when she was not competent to do so
• failing to record observations when she was required to do so, and
• withholding medication from a patient without proper consultation or an appropriate medical order.

The nurse admitted – and the tribunal found that the nurse had – engaged in professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional performance. The tribunal reprimanded her and imposed conditions on her registration requiring her to undertake additional education and training about the scope of practice for an enrolled nurse, communicating with colleagues, administering medication, and undertaking physical assessments.

The tribunal decision is published on WA State Administrative Tribunal website.