Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
Director of Proceedings v Slater, HPDT 1426/Nur24/606D (19 July 2024)
The Director of Proceedings brought a successful disciplinary prosecution against a registered nurse, RN Slater, in the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal).
The charge alleged that RN Slater had instructed a support worker to administer 0.5 mg of clonazepam (the medication) to a consumer without their consent or knowledge on the 27th and 29th of May 2020. RN Slater did so with the knowledge that the administration was against the consumer’s wishes, as they had explicitly advised that they did not want to take the medication during the day. Furthermore, the administration of the medication was contrary to the consumers’ general practitioner’s instructions that the medication only be taken at nighttime.
RN Slater did not make any record of her conversation with the support worker regarding her instructions to administer the medication. The consumer’s medication record was not updated, and consequently the administration of the medication went undocumented. RN Slater did not inform management at HealthCare New Zealand of her actions, even after complaints were lodged by support workers and the consumer with upper management regarding the incident.
RN Slater accepted all particulars of the charge and that her conduct amounted to professional misconduct.
The Tribunal found that RN Slater’s conduct was a significant departure from the expected standards of a nurse in her position and that her conduct amounted to professional misconduct warranting disciplinary sanction. The Tribunal noted:
“Members of the public need to be able to trust that nurses will comply with prescriber directions, communicate with their patients and not provide medication to a patient without their knowledge and consent.”
RN Slater was censured and ordered to pay a fine of $2500 and costs. In addition, the Tribunal also imposed a condition that for a period of two years RN Slater must disclose a copy of the Tribunal’s decision to any current, prospective and/or future employer.
RN Slater did not seek permanent name suppression.
A link to the Tribunal’s decision can be found at: