NI Nurse 'Did Not Know Recovery Position'

A nurse who worked in a Northern Ireland hospital had such massive gaps in her basic knowledge she could not show how to put a patient in the recovery position.

Joshy John's performance was under scrutiny at a fitness to practice hearing that came about after her time working at Craigavon Area Hospital.

Although she was under supervision while under training for her new band-five role in the trauma and orthopaedic department, she still presented a risk to patients, the hearing has been told.

She faces a number of charges, including being unable to spot the signs that a patient had fainted and failing to recognise that the temperature of a patient recovering from surgery was at dangerous levels.

One of the nurses who supervised her training said: "She was at risk of harming patients. There was someone there to guide her, but the risk was always there."

The Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing was told that Ms John was employed by the Southern Health & Social Care Trust between April 19, 2010 and August 10, 2010, during which time her probation period was extended a number of times.

The supervising nurse said that the department was extremely busy and noisy and a challenging environment for all new members of staff.

But under cross-examination she admitted that she did not think Ms John would have performed better in any other department.

The hearing continues.

(NE)