Nurse struck off after angry tirade at deaf patient

The nurse was dismissed after the incident at the specialist mental health hospital

A mental health nurse who launched a tirade of "vulgar and abusive language" at a deaf patient has been struck off.

Andrea Burdon had threatened to "knock out" and "kill" the patient on a ward at All Saints Hospital, a specialist facility for mental health patients, in Oldham in May 2020.

The former nurse, who had already quit the profession after the incident, told police at the time she had got herself "worked up" during the altercation.

She was found no longer fit to practice by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel due to her misconduct and was removed from the nurses register.

'Visibly distressed'

The panel heard Ms Burdon had gone to check on the patient at the private hospital, which was purpose built for male patients who are deaf and have complex communication needs.

They asked for a different nurse to administer their medication, but Ms Burdon refused, grabbing that patient's hand without consent to check the glucose monitor on their finger.

A witness said the patient pulled away and clenched their fist, an action followed by Ms Burdon shouting "go on then", who went on to swear and threatened to retaliate if they tried to hit her.

The panel heard staff at the hospital were all aware the patient's mood could change from "hour to hour".

She then poked the patient in the shoulder, causing them to fall back on to their bed, leaving them "visibly distressed", the panel's report said.

The former nurse was immediately suspended by her employer and then dismissed in July 2020.

During a local investigation, Ms Burdon said she took "full responsibility" for what had happened, and apologised for her conduct.

Her actions were judged to have fallen "significantly short of the standards expected of a registered nurse", the panel found.