Pursuant to sections 42 (1) (a), 42 (2) (b), 42 (3) and 48A of the Nurses Act 1977, the Nursing Council of New Zealand ("the council"), in a decision dated 15 November 2003, ordered that an enrolled nurse be suspended from practice for a period of six months following conviction in the
New Plymouth District Court on 2 April 2001.
The charges included theft by a person holding power of attorney (sections 223 and 227 (A) of the Crimes Act 1961) and 17 counts of using documentation for pecuniary advantage (section 229 (A) (b)).
The nurse was sentenced to four months' periodic detention, limited to light duties, and ordered by the Court to pay reparation of $1,587.22 to the victim and $1,220.62 to the police.
In exercising its disciplinary powers, the council also ordered that the nurse pay $580.00 towards the costs and expenses of and incidental to the council inquiry, and that
a notice stating the effect of the orders be published in
the New Zealand Gazette, Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, the Nursing Review, the council's newsletter and made available to accredited members of the media, upon request, with suppression of all identifying details of the case.
MARION CLARK, Registrar.