A ‘remorseful’ nurse who endangered a patient’s life by injecting medication has been allowed to continue practicing after a decision by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Patience Yakwange Kaya, a nurse on Cedar Ward at Whipps Cross Hospital was told she can continue in her field under a ‘conditions of practice’ order.

The NMC published their decision earlier this month stating that although punishment was necessary, the nurse was honest and showed remorse for her actions.

Ms Kaya faced six charges of misconduct relating to the handling of a patient, including wrongly administering medicine, purporting to deliver medicine which she had not, not seeking a doctor’s help and administering an injection without the presence of another nurse.

The NMC panel heard that on May 3, 2013, Ms Kaya started her shift – she was given five patients and was working with a newly qualified nurse.

A patient, known as ‘Patient A’ had been prescribed Ramipril, Ranitidine and Bendroflumethiazide.

Ramipril and Bendroflumethiazide are used to treat hypertension and Ranitidine is a medication that is used to reduce gastric acidity.

The patient was on ‘nil by mouth’ instructions at the time, however, the medication was to be delivered orally.

Ms Kaya decided, after the patient told her she was not to have the medication, to crush the pills and mix them with saline.

She then injected the medication solution intravenously – which was spotted by a Band 6 ward sister.

The trust’s Medicines Safety Nurse wrote to the NMC: “It is never acceptable to crush oral medication and administer it intravenously.

“Medication that is administered intravenously is much faster acting than oral medication as it is administered directly into the vein.

“By crushing oral medication and dissolving it in saline before administering it intravenously, Ms Kaya also placed (Patient A) at risk of embolism, which is a blockage in a blood vessel that could ultimately result in death.”

The patient was transferred to Intensive Care as the Poisons Information Centre (PIC) advised.

The ‘understanding’ patient did not suffer as a result of the incident and accepted an apology.

In an investigatory interview before the hearing Ms Kaya said: “I did take it seriously, I had put the patient in danger.

“What I did was wrong, to this day I do not know what I doing. I have never put anyone in danger.

“I make sure my patient are safe (sic). I can only blame myself, I have let everyone down. I can’t justify it.”

Each charge was proven by admission by the nurse.

Following the hearing, on January 30, the panel decided a suspension order would be ‘disproportionate’. Instead, an 18 month conditions of practice order was imposed.

Ms Kaya must notify any employer of the actions taken against her and let the NMC know if she changes her job role.

The nurse must also undergo a period of supervision and keep a close relationship with her line manager as well as undergoing training.

The panel noted the nurse’s honesty and remorse throughout proceedings.

A Barts Health NHS Trust spokesperson said: “This former member of staff was dismissed in January 2014 for gross professional misconduct.”