Nigerian nurse loses licence in Australia after sleeping over four hours during shift

A Nigerian-born nurse has lost her licence to practise in Australia after a tribunal found that she repeatedly slept while on duty, putting the lives of elderly patients at serious risk.

Tribunal strikes off Nigerian nurse over professional misconduct

The nurse, Chimzuruoke Okembunachi, 25, was deregistered by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) after ruling that her conduct amounted to professional misconduct.

Okembunachi had been working at Hardi Aged Care in Guildford, western Sydney, where she resumed employment in February 2024. Within a month, she was suspended and later resigned following reports of repeated sleeping during night shifts.

Only registered nurse on duty for nearly 100 residents

According to evidence presented at the hearing, between March 13 and March 27, 2024, Okembunachi was the only registered nurse on night duty, supervising three to four assistants-in-nursing (AINs) and responsible for approximately 100 elderly residents.

The tribunal heard that she fell asleep during six separate night shifts, including one occasion where she slept for four hours and 24 minutes.

Patients missed medication as nurse slept

On at least three occasions, residents reportedly missed prescribed doses of morphine while she was asleep.

In one incident on March 21–22, an assistant-in-nursing reportedly switched on the nurses’ station light to wake her, but she turned it off shortly after and went back to sleep.

In another case, she instructed an assistant to administer Panadol to a patient, despite the assistant not being authorised to do so.

Reports filed, nurse resigns shortly after suspension notice

Two nurses formally reported Okembunachi’s conduct on March 27. The following day, she received a suspension notice and an invitation to attend a meeting. However, she resigned about 20 minutes later and declined to participate in the meeting.

Nurse admits failure and cites stress

During the tribunal hearing, Okembunachi admitted her actions, stating that the role caused her significant stress and that working night shifts compromised patient safety.

“When I slept on night shift, I failed in supervising those staff members and the residents,” she told the tribunal.

Tribunal rules deregistration necessary

While acknowledging her remorse, the tribunal ruled that deregistration was necessary, stating that her actions “had the potential to endanger the lives of patients under her care.”

Background and current status

Born in Nigeria, Okembunachi moved to Australia in 2018 and qualified as a nurse in 2021. She is currently studying medicine at Western Sydney University.

She has been barred from reapplying for nursing registration for at least nine months and has not returned to nursing practice.