Nurse Cautioned Over Threats To Patient, UK

Main Category: Medical Malpractice / Litigation
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 08 Feb 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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A 68 year old registered adult nurse from Belfast has received a 2-year Caution Order from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for conduct unbecoming of someone in the profession.

Mrs Nomantungwa Matilda Mncwabe was a Staff Nurse at the Woodbank Nursing Home in Belfast when on 26 March 2006 she:

-- Spoke to Resident TD in a manner that was bullying and/or inappropriate in that she told him:

- "I can f**k you up and go, what can you do, you are a cripple?", or words to that effect;
- "I am f**king sick of you", or words to that effect.

-- Acted in an intimidating and/or threatening manner towards Resident TD in that she held a pillow above his head.

-- Displayed physical aggression to Resident TD in that she threw two pillows at his head. -- Spoke about Resident TD to Care Assistant Isobel Blaney in a manger that was threatening and/or inappropriate in that she said "If I had a knife I would kill TD", or words to that effect.

Mrs Mncwabe was not present at the hearing in Belfast when the independent panel of the NMC's Conduct and Competence Committee heard witness testimony and was presented with documented evidence which proved the charges before it. The panel also heard evidence to the effect that this particular resident, although vulnerable, had presented the entire staff on of the home with challenging behaviour. They also noted that prior to this incident, Mrs Mncwabe had a good work history and no disciplinary record.

Commenting on the panel's decision to issue a 2-year Caution Order, NMC spokesperson, Leila Harris said: "The panel took into account all the facts surrounding this case and determined that the incident occurred in the context of extreme provocation and verbal abuse directed towards Mrs Mncwabe who, at that period in time, was suffering from other personal stresses in her life. The panel were impressed by her early admission to the charges, her insight into her behaviour and her offer to resign in the interests of Resident TD's continuing welfare. In light of all the evidence, the panel agreed that a 2-year Caution Order was the appropriate sanction."

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK regulator for two professions, nursing and midwifery. The primary purpose of the NMC is protection of the public. It does this through maintaining a register of all nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses eligible to practise within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. Currently the number of registrants exceeds 686,000. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

The independent panel is selected from a pool of individuals appointed by the Appointments Board. They come from a variety of backgrounds and are not NMC Council members, nor do they sit on any committee of the Council.

Nursing and Midwifery Council