Denbighshire nurse demonstrated ‘failures in patient assessment’

Jessica Jayne Davies was found by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), to have shown between January and May of this year:

• A failure to follow guidelines for advanced or prescribing practice
• Poor communication
• Failures in seeking clinical input regarding patient presentation
• Failures in patient assessment
• Poor record-keeping skills
• Failures in patient referrals and following up on their care

Ms Davies has been registered as an adult nurse since 2007, and as an independent prescriber since 2019.

At a hearing on November 18, a total of 10 “undertakings” were agreed, which Ms Davies will have to abide by for up to the next 13 months.

In that time period, Ms Davies can only work for one “substantive employer”, and for the next 12 months, she cannot prescribe medication unless supervised by a registered nurse or doctor.

Within the next four months, meanwhile, Ms Davies must provide evidence that she has successfully completed training in patient assessment, recognising a deteriorating patient and escalation, record-keeping and documentation, and communication.

She has also been tasked with creating a personal development plan, to address the aforementioned areas, which will be reviewed monthly.

Her line manager is also to create a report detailing her progress with this plan.

Ms Davies must inform the NMC within seven days of accepting or leaving any employment, give her case officer her employer’s contact details, and keep the NMC informed about anywhere she is studying.

She will immediately give a copy of these undertakings to anyone she works for, and must tell her case officer about any incident, investigation or disciplinary proceedings she is involved in within seven days of becoming aware.

In addition, she must allow her case officer to share details about her performance with any current or future employer, educational establishment, or individual involved in her retraining or supervision.