Wolverhampton nurse suspended for care failings
A nurse has been suspended after failing to assist with the emergency care of a patient who had collapsed.
The nurse, who worked for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, also incorrectly prescribed medication, and in some cases did not give patients medication at all, a report stated.
She has been suspended from her duties for six months by the Nursing and Midwifery Council for “lack of competence” with the suspension to begin on August 9.
A report said that in late 2016 and early 2017 the Wolverhampton nurse was “not able to make an independent decision about prioritisation of treatment of patients” and often required guidance relating to the administration of several medications.
She was also observed incorrectly carrying out a number of procedures, including preparing a saline flush and administering IV fluids. She also documented ‘basic observations’ incorrectly, when trying to treat a critically-ill patient.
The report also stated that in January 2017, when a patient collapsed, the nurse did not assist with emergency care.
She also did not pass on essential information to other staff, relating to the patient’s care.
The nurse had been in front of the panel six months previously, where she appeared to be a “dedicated nurse with a commitment to the profession”.
The report stated: "The panel had concerns regarding her [the nurse's] ability to put her theoretical knowledge into practice when faced with an emergency situation.
"She [the nurse] has not provided any further information for this panel today regarding her current employment situation or any steps she has taken to address the previous panel’s concerns.
"In the absence of any such information, this panel concluded that her fitness to practise remains impaired."
Council bosses have said the suspension will now allow the nurse to further consider her future in nursing – as she had been considering leaving the profession – but that she must work on her leadership and assertiveness skills and practise responding to emergency situations.
A spokesperson for the trust said: “This person is no longer employed by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and has not worked for the Trust since 2017.”
