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.

The committee also said Ms O’Brien had failed to take adequate and proper care of her patients on the same occasion.

Among the criticisms were that she provided an incorrect dosage of insulin to a patient and failed to give a nasogastric feed to another patient as well as not giving medication to two other patients.

The board also found that Ms O’Brien had breached an undertaking she gave it in Feb 2008, that she would not practise nursing while she was the subject of a fitness to practise hearing, by seeking employment with a nursing agency.

She subsequently falsely claimed to an agency that while she was suspended, she would be allowed to resume nursing following a period of counselling.

An Bord Altranais ruled she was suffering from an addiction to alcohol and drugs and was unfit to practice as a nurse.

Another nurse, Mary Teresa Cummins, was advised in relation to her professional conduct after a Bord Altranais committee after being found guilty of professional misconduct for taking valium tablets without authority for her own use while working on occasions in 2007 and 2009.

Conditions were also attached to the retention of her name on the register of nurses and midwives.

They were among seven rulings of the board’s fitness to practise committee published yesterday.