A Dundee children’s nurse has escaped suspension after she described sick babies in ICU as “fat” and said some mothers should be sterilised.
Ninewells Hospital worker Karen Cunningham admitted making cruel comments about the weight of newborns as well as a string of other hurtful remarks to mothers and colleagues.
Ms Cunningham, who worked in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), also gave incorrect medication and administered 10 times a recommended dosage.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found her guilty of misconduct but ruled she could continue to work in the industry under supervision.
The fitness to practice committee described her behaviour as “unprofessional and inappropriate”.
NHS Tayside say she is no longer an employee at the health board.
What did the nurse do?
Most of the incidents occurred in April and May 2018.
When speaking about babies in the clinical area, she said “stick it on the fat girl’s a***” and “wow he’s a fat b*****d”, as well as calling another a “fatso”.
She also described a mother as a “scummy junkie” and that some people should “not be allowed to have children” or they should be “sterilised”.
On another occasion, she made a disparaging remark about the mental capacity of a patient and also said “it’s not my baby I’m not f*****g dealing with it”, when an oxygen monitor alarm was sounding.
She failed to ensure that a patient’s lipid was infusing at the correct rate and administered it at 10 times above the prescribed rate.
The healthcare worker, who has been a nurse for 30 years, also administered antibiotic trimethorprim instead of paracetamol.
Her misconduct also included calling a colleague “useless” and a “fat git”.
What did the regulator say?
The NMC said Ms Cunningham, who was suspended in October 2018, placed vulnerable babies at risk of “serious harm”.
Its decision stated aspects of Ms Cunningham’s personality need to be improved but that she has shown remorse.
It said: “The panel has found that your insight into equality and diversity required further development and considered that you lacked some self-awareness around your own unconscious biases.
“However, you have also demonstrated considerable remorse and fully accepted the gravity and impact of your actions.
“At no point have you sought to minimise your failings or to deflect blame and you have expressed a willingness to do further work to develop your insight.
“For these reasons, the panel concluded that your use of discriminatory language, while completely unacceptable, was not the result of an irremediable attitudinal problem and could be addressed through learning and reflection.”
The NMC noted she was experiencing health issues at the time which may have influenced or contributed to her behaviour.
It also made clear it’s the first time in her career she has been referred to the NMC and she is “ashamed” and “appalled” by her own actions.
It ruled a suspension would be “disproportionate and punitive” and instead imposed conditions on her practice for 18 months.
She must be supervised by another registered nurse at any time she is working and when administering medicine.
The regulator also listed four aspects of training required including “respecting and supporting” junior colleagues.