A Sydney nurse who stole $1000 from the account of an elderly cancer patient after forcibly obtaining her PIN has been deregistered for at least four years.
Percy McCarthy's misconduct was premeditated and of "a most egregious kind", the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal said on Friday.
"She took advantage of an elderly, vulnerable patient who was under her care and whose health and safety she was required to protect," it said.
"She caused physical harm to that patient in engaging in conduct which is the antithesis of the characteristics and traits of a professional nurse.
"She destroyed the confidence the public is entitled to expect of a professional nurse that patients will be safe whilst in their care and their property will also be safe."
The tribunal in December upheld four complaints against McCarthy, including professional misconduct.
In June 2019, she was found guilty in the District Court of dishonestly obtaining, and of attempting to obtain, a financial advantage by deception.
She had tried to withdraw $1000 from one account and succeeded in doing so with a second card.
McCarthy was sentenced to a two-year community correction order which included a requirement for 500 hours of community work
The patient had reported "I could feel someone hurting me and holding me down", and feeling "so frightened" as the nurse repeatedly asked for the PIN.
The 75-year-old woman was recovering from surgery in March 2018 at the Hospital for Specialist Surgery, Bella Vista.
Two bank cards were in her purse in a handbag, hidden under a cabinet in her room.
The tribunal found McCarthy, who failed to notify the Nursing and Midwifery Board of the charges, lied to police and lied on oath at her trial.
It concluded there was no evidence of any reason for McCarthy's serious misconduct or that the nurse of almost 15 years' experience has engaged in any rehabilitation.
"We are not persuaded that she is unlikely to engage in the same or similar activities in the future," the tribunal said.
"We conclude that the respondent, whilst professing contrition and remorse has done so in the context of seeing herself and her family as victims of her misconduct."
It rejected her submission that instead of cancelling her registration, she should be allowed to teach nursing students but not perform any clinical practice.
