Nurse used 'unreasonable' force against aged care resident, tribunal rules

A registered nurse, Su Jin Han, will be barred from practicing for two years following a tribunal ruling that she used excessive and unjustified force against a resident with dementia at an aged care facility in Adelaide. The South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Han to have failed to maintain professional conduct during a series of incidents on November 12, 2023.

CCTV footage captured Han forcibly grabbing the resident's wrists, holding onto them for about 55 seconds, and dragging her towards the lounge area. Minutes later, the resident struck Han with a soft object, thought to be a tea towel or paper towel. The tribunal concluded that Han's actions were completely unreasonable and unnecessary, representing an abuse of her position of power and a clear violation of professional ethics.

Han was reprimanded, her registration revoked, and she is prohibited from providing any health services until she re-registers. The tribunal acknowledged Han's remorse and insight into her behavior, noting she had not worked as a nurse for some time and was currently employed as a social worker. However, the tribunal also highlighted the dangerous working conditions Han faced, including a double shift the day before the incident and a demanding work schedule.

Despite these factors, the tribunal found the extent of Han's force to be entirely inappropriate and unprofessional.