Nigerian Nurse Loses Licence in Australia for Sleeping on Duty

Nigerian Nurse Loses Licence in Australia for Sleeping on Duty

A Nigerian-born nurse, Chimzuruoke Okembunachi, has had her nursing licence cancelled in Australia after a tribunal found she repeatedly slept during night shifts at an aged care facility in Western Sydney, putting patients at serious risk.

The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) ruled that between March 13 and March 27, 2024, Okembunachi, who was the sole registered nurse on duty during some nights, fell asleep multiple times, resulting in patients missing vital medications, including morphine. On one occasion, she allegedly turned off a light switched on by an assistant and returned to sleep, while on another, she instructed an assistant to give medication without proper authority.

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Okembunachi, who moved to Australia in 2018 and earned her Bachelor of Nursing Science in 2021, also cited migraines, academic pressures, and family stress as factors affecting her performance. Despite this, the tribunal concluded that her actions endangered the lives of elderly patients and ruled that deregistration was the only adequate sanction. She cannot apply for a review for nine months and has not practised nursing since her suspension.

Impact on Professional Standards

The case highlights the importance of patient safety and professional conduct in healthcare. Regulatory bodies like the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) maintain strict oversight, with other nurses also facing deregistration for unsafe practices or breaches of professional ethics.

Experts say the incident underscores the critical need for vigilance in aged care facilities and the consequences of failing to adhere to professional standards, particularly in countries facing workforce shortages in nursing and healthcare.

Nigerian Nurse Loses Licence in Australia for Sleeping on Duty