A Nigerian-born nurse has been deregistered in Australia after a professional tribunal found that she repeatedly slept while on duty during night shifts at an aged care facility in Sydney.
The tribunal ruled that the nurse’s conduct amounted to professional misconduct, citing multiple instances in which she was found asleep during shifts when she was responsible for monitoring and caring for elderly residents. The panel noted that such actions posed serious risks to patient safety and fell short of the standards expected of registered health practitioners in Australia.
Following its findings, the tribunal ordered that the nurse be removed from the professional register, effectively barring her from practising nursing in the country. The decision underscores Australia’s strict regulatory approach to healthcare practice, particularly in aged care settings where vulnerable residents rely heavily on constant supervision.
Regulatory authorities reiterated that patient safety remains paramount and warned that breaches of professional duty, especially those that compromise care, would attract severe sanctions.
