'Bullying' nurse who swore at patient struck off
NMCA "bullying" nurse who swore at a patient and told another to "shower because she smelled" has been struck off.
Dean Thomson was a registered advanced nurse practitioner for the Homeless Healthcare Service in Southampton when the incidents took place during 2021 and 2022, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise committee heard.
He also ignored or refused requests for help from colleagues and "deliberately" acted in an "obstructive manner" on at least one occasion by moving patients from his allocated list, the committee was told.
Thomson was not at the hearing, which heard the panel rule his actions amounted to professional misconduct and his fitness to practise was impaired.
The panel said: "Mr Thomson's actions were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse and are fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register."
It said the findings demonstrated his actions were "serious", and that allowing him to continue practising would "undermine public confidence in the profession, and in the NMC as a regulatory body".
The committee heard that Thomson:
- Swore at a patient
- Told a patient "to have a shower because she smelled", also telling her she was "childish", "pathetic" and should "grow up"
- Told a colleague to go home and that they were not needed, making them feel "unwanted and belittled"
- Was dishonest about the failure to observe that a previously aggressive patient was seen by two members of medical staff at a time
- Refused to help put boxes of stock away
- Would not help a practice nurse with an ECG machine
- Spoke to a colleague in a tone that caused her to cry, called her "receptionist" rather than surgery manager, and talked about her mental health in front of a patient
The panel cited an "element of dishonesty" and "bullying, discriminatory and harassing behaviour", which was "indicative of embedded behaviour/attitudinal issues".
Thomson, who has been on the NMC register since 1995, began working in the Homeless HealthCare Service in 2017.
He agreed his fitness to practise was impaired due to his misconduct, according to the panel's documentation.
Solent NHS Trust completed an investigation in June 2022, but no disciplinary hearing took place as Thomson went on sick leave in August 2022 and resigned a month later.
The panel said: "The public would be appalled to know that a nurse had engaged in such conduct, and such conduct causes serious damage to the reputation of the nursing professions.
"Nurses and midwives are expected to act with honesty, integrity and trustworthiness at all times."
It also said his conduct "lacked integrity and trustworthiness, and amounted to a significant breach of fundamental tenets of the profession".
An 18-month interim suspension order was imposed as Mr Thomson still has the option to appeal against the panel's decision.
