Nurse was under influence of drugs while at work

A nurse has been struck off the register of nurses and midwives after being found under the influence of alcohol and drugs while working.

A fitness to practise committee of Bord Altranais (the Nursing Board) found the nurse, Mary O’Brien, also known as Maura Cremer, unfit to work as a nurse for reason of physical or mental disability.

It ruled that she was incapable of performing her duties on a night at an unidentified health facility in Dec 2009. She had been confused and disorientated while at work and had become verbally abusive to another staff nurse. Ms O’Brien also asked the same nurse not to report her behaviour on the night.