A Nigerian-born nurse, Chimzuruoke Okembunachi, has lost her professional licence in Australia after a tribunal found that she repeatedly slept while on duty during night shifts at an aged care facility in Sydney.
The 25-year-old nurse was deregistered by the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NSW), which ruled that her cønduct amounted to professional miscønduct and posed a serious risk to patient safety. Okembunachi was employed at Hardi Aged Care in Guildford from February 2024 but was suspended within a month of resuming work and later resigned from her position.
According to findings presented before the tribunal, Okembunachi worked several night shifts between March 13 and March 27, 2024, often as the sole registered nurse on duty. During these shifts, she was responsible for supervising up to four assistants-in-nursing and caring for approximately 100 elderly residents.
The tribunal heard that on at least six occasions, she fell asleep while on duty, failing to adequately supervise both staff and residents. On three of those nights, residents reportedly missed their prescribed morphine doses, raising serious concerns about medication management and patient welfare.
Further evidence revealed that Okembunachi instructed an assistant-in-nursing to administer medication despite the assistant not being authorised to do so under Australian healthcare regulations. Colleagues raised concerns about her conduct on March 27, prompting her suspension the following day.
During the hearing, Okembunachi admitted to the allêgations and expressed remorse for her actions. She explained that she had been under significant pressure due to ongoing health challenges, academic commitments, and financial responsibilities to her family. She acknowledged that accepting night shifts while struggling with these issues compromised her ability to provide safe and effective care.
While the tribunal noted that she was honest, cooperative, and showed genuine remorse, it concluded that deregistration was the only appropriate sanction. The panel stressed that her actions had the potential to place vulnerable patients at serious risk and undermine trust in the nursing profession.
As part of the ruling, Okembunachi will be barred from applying for a review of the decision for at least nine months.
