Tribunal reprimands a nurse and suspends her registration

07 Jun 2016

A tribunal has reprimanded a nurse, suspended her registration for three months, and imposed conditions on her registration.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) referred Miss Netty Nyaruwata to the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia (the tribunal), alleging that in 2014 she had behaved in a way that constituted professional misconduct.

The NMBA conducted an investigation after it had received a notification from Miss Nyaruwata’s employer, in which it was alleged that while performing her duties, she hit a patient three times on the side of the head, with an open hand.

Upon receiving the notification, the NMBA took immediate action by imposing conditions on Miss Nyaruwata’s registration to protect the public.

Miss Nyaruwata admitted – and the tribunal found – that she had engaged in professional misconduct.

The tribunal reprimanded Miss Nyaruwata, suspended her registration with the NMBA for three months, and imposed conditions on her registration that require her to carry out additional education and training about managing patients.

She was also ordered to pay the NMBA’s costs of $1,900.

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