A HUDDERSFIELD nurse was issued with a caution after he was found guilty of professional misconduct by the Nursing and Midwifery Disciplinary Committee.
Stuart Nield, 57, a registered mental health nurse, worked on Ward 2 of the Beaumont Unit at St Luke's Hospital, Cros- land Moor, between February and March 2003, when the allegations are said to have taken place.
In his absence, the committee in London found him guilty of signing the medication administration record for a patient to indicate he had given the patient a drug which was not prescribed on six dates.
He was also found guilty of failing to sign the medication administration record for another patient to indicate whether drugs had been given on four occasions.
The committee heard the case in Nurse Nield's absence and noted this was not a "one-off error" but a series of errors involving two patients over a number of dates.
His actions had an impact on the health and well-being of these vulnerable patients which were in breach of guidelines for the administration of medicines.
The guidelines state a nurse must consider the dosage and timing of the administration in the context of the condition of the patient. It also requires a nurse to make a clear and adequate record.
The committee said the nurse had been unable to account for his actions but had showed remorse and had a previous good history.
Their primary concern was for patients but they were satisfied his actions were not deliberate and no long term harm resulted.
