Tribunal disqualifies former nurse for professional misconduct

23 Nov 2020

A tribunal has disqualified a former nurse for professional misconduct concerning misappropriated medication. 

Between 1 January 2017 and 5 April 2017, a registered nurse misappropriated mediation (fentanyl and morphine) from her employer. She was subsequently convicted of theft and received a good behaviour bond for 12 months.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency received a notification about the nurse’s conduct on 6 April 2017. On 28 April 2017, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) took immediate action to suspend her registration. The nurse surrendered her registration in July 2018 and has not been registered since that time. 

The South Australia Civil and Administrative Tribunal (tribunal) found that the nurse engaged in professional misconduct. The tribunal ordered that she be reprimanded, disqualified from reapplying for registration as a nurse until 13 March 2023, and pay a contribution to the NMBA’s costs.