2017-06-01 · Waterford
Experienced nurse found guilty of professional misconduct
An experienced Waterford nurse, Angelah Machekanyanga, was found guilty of professional misconduct by a fitness‑to‑practice inquiry. The case concerned a patient (Patient A) who underwent a hip‑replacement surgery on 26 November 2014 at the private Whitfield Clinic. Machekanyanga began her shift that evening and provided care to the patient and others throughout the night. A pain assessment at 10 pm recorded a pain level of 8/10, but no further assessment was documented until 6 am the next morning. The patient reported no relief until 3 am, when a doctor discovered a bleed in the buttocks, requiring a return to surgery. The inquiry found that Machekanyanga failed to perform the required Colour, Movement and Sensation assessment and failed to record the care she provided, amounting to professional misconduct and non‑compliance with the nurses' code of conduct. The hearing, which began in November 2016, was held at the Talbot Hotel in Dublin.