A NURSE who worked at care homes in Dorchester and Weymouth has been struck off for misconduct after committing 'multiple, serious acts' while caring for residents.
Alexandra Tarlea committed 20 offences while working at Maumbury Care Home, in Dorchester, and Queen Charlotte Nursing Home in Weymouth between March 10, 2017 and January 27, 2018.
It was proved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) that Tarlea, originally from Romania, was found guilty of misconduct while caring for three residents living at Maumbury Care Home, in Weymouth Avenue and one resident at Queen Charlotte Nursing Home, in Chickerell Road.
The committee heard how while working at Maumbury Care Home, it was proved that Tarlea on March 10, 2017 did not properly manage a male resident's diabetes and failed to monitor his blood sugar between 10am to 4.30pm.
She failed to call 999 immediately on two separate occasion when the man became drowsy and again when he had difficulty breathing. She also used a suction machine on him inappropriately, and used a tissue to clean his mouth contrary to a care plan.
On March 7 2017, she created a PRN Medication Care Plan for morphine sulphate for a female resident and failed to record the time interval between doses. Tarlea also failed to arrange a continence assessment for the woman, and did not safely manage her skin integrity in April 2017, and failed to ensure a body map was completed. She also failed to ensure sorbaderm cream was applied twice a day, or in the alternative that application was recorded.
On May 27, 2017, Tarlea failed to administer paracetamol to another woman who had suffered a stroke in September 2015. She also failed to discuss the paracetamol medication with their GP before varying the frequency of the dose.
Between May 28 and May 31, 2017 she failed to administer paracetamol at the frequency directed.
She created topical medication application records for dermal cream and Medihoney for the second female resident, but did not ensure this was being applied, or in the alternative ensure a record of application was kept.
On June 1, 2017, Tarlea also failed to complete a pain chart to assess the second female resident's pain.
Tarlea resigned from her role at Maumbury Care Home on July 10, 2017, following which she started a nursing role at Queen Charlotte Nursing Home.
While working there on Christmas Day 2017, Tarlea updated a female resident's care plan and did not ensure there were clear instructions in relation to medication administration.
Between January 16 and 27 2018, Tarlea did not administer paracetamol to the resident on at least one occasion, failed to record how the resident’s pain levels should be assessed on at least one occasion, failed to update the care plan to show that morphine had been prescribed by a doctor, and did not ensure morphine was administered to the resident when in pain on at least one occasion.
Tarlea left her position at the Weymouth home on April 30, 2018.
The NMC submitted the actions and omissions can be properly characterised as 'multiple, serious acts over a prolonged period of time' at two different nursing homes.
The actions also represent a 'significant departure from the principles of safe and effective care, including serious concerns in respect of medication administration, record keeping and escalation'.
The conduct fell 'far below the standards to be expected of nurses and a finding of misconduct must necessarily follow'.
Tarlea has been given an interim suspension order of 18 months in case she appeals the decision.
A spokesman from Kingsley, which runs Queen Charlotte Nursing Home, said: "Alex Tarlea worked as a nurse at Queen Charlotte for just a few months.
"As soon as the circumstances of this case became clear we immediately followed all the correct reporting procedures.
"We are pleased with the outcome."
A spokesman from Agincare, which operates the Dorchester care home, said: "The health and wellbeing of our residents is our absolute priority and we expect all our team members to uphold the highest professional standards of care, so we regret that a member of our team did not fulfil their duties as a Registered Nurse during 2017.
"On concerns being raised, she was suspended pending disciplinary investigation and resigned before this was concluded; and due to the severity of the situation we immediately made referrals to both the Nursing & Midwifery Council and Disclosure and Barring Service with our concerns, and have fully co-operated with the ongoing NMC investigation process."
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