Bay nurse charged for sexual relationship with patient

A Hawke's Bay nurse is facing charges of professional misconduct for starting a sexual relationship with one of his patients, who had a number of significant mental health issues including anxiety and a history of self-harm and suicide.
The charges relate to a period when the patient - referred to as Ms NN - was 19 and admitted to the Hawke's Bay District Health Board (DHB) Mental Health In-Patient Unit, as well as to a period after she was discharged.
The case is being heard today in Wellington by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. Orders are in place to protect the identity of the nurse, Ms NN, and Ms NN's mother.
Director of proceedings Aaron Martin told the tribunal that the nurse had abused his position of trust and taken advantage of Ms NN, the "most vulnerable of patients".
It was the most serious type of misconduct, as he had to know the negative impact that his behaviour would have on Ms NN's health, exposing her to the risk of further harm.
"He knew the patient was at risk of self-harm and suicide. To move immediately into a sexual relationship, her first sexual relationship ... was recklessly dangerous," Mr Martin said.
In the agreed summary of facts, Ms NN was in the nurse's care on several occasions after her admission.
He told Ms NN that he "dreamt about her, that she was meant to be in his life, and that he had a nightmare that [Ms NN] had killed herself".
He started texting her while she was still an inpatient. When she was discharged, he sent her 23 text messages.
They met for coffee twice and they were in constant text contact.
"The texts became increasingly personal and sexual in nature," the summary says.
He later visited her and stayed with her and she made a visit to Hawkes Bay and they had sex for the first time, less than six weeks after her discharge from hospital.
When she returned home, the nurse told her he was under supervision because they had been seen together - but this was a lie to distance himself from her.
when he visited her later, they watched the movie Sucker Punch, during which he referred to Ms NN as "Babydoll"after the movie's lead character.
In the movie, Babydoll is institutionalised by an abusive step-father in an asylum where the girls are trapped and subjected to violence and sexual exploitation. In the final scenes, Babydoll is lobotomised.
Around this time, Ms NN tried to kill herself.
In the weeks following, the nurse told Ms NN he was applying for jobs in the city where she lived.
"He spoke about marriage ... and that they would live together."
At some point, the nurse told his supervisor that he felt suicidal, and safer at work than at home. He was advised to take leave, but did not.
In December 2011, the nurse told Ms NN via text that he was being admitted to hospital and had been sectioned on a five-day assessment - but this was also a lie to distance himself from her.
In response, Ms NN had "increased feelings of self-hatred" and blamed herself.
Ten days later, she told someone that her boyfriend had been her nurse.
When confronted by the Hawke's Bay DHB, the nurse admitted to a sexual relationship.
Ms NN's mother laid a complaint with the Health and Disability Commissioner in January 2012. The nurse lost his job, surrendered his practising certificate, and has not practised since.
He wrote an apology letter to Ms NN and her family after he was investigated.
His counsel, Margaret Barnett-Davidson, said the nurse has accepted that his actions amounted to professional misconduct - though that was a matter for the tribunal to decide.
She questioned the extent to which the relationship had an effect on Ms NN's health.
There was no evidence that "at any point in time her mental health was intensified in its problems, that the risk of suicide was increased"because of the relationship, which was consensual.
She said the nurse believed he was mentally ill with depression at the time of the incident.
The nurse faces suspension, a ban and/or a fine of up to $30,000.
The hearing was set down for Monday and Tuesday.
A Hawke's Bay DHB spokesperson said it received the allegation on December 22, 2011.
The same day a meeting was held he was and suspended immediately. He was dismissed on January 11, 2012. The Nursing Council was informed of both his suspension and his dismissal