Nurse struck off for stealing from rest home

A Whangarei nurse who cleaned out the bank account of a partially blind elderly rest home resident in a pre-Christmas spend-up has been struck off the nurses' register.

Rosemary Anne Kennedy wrote cheques worth $3000 and charged $2500 to a department store card belonging to the rest home resident before Christmas 2003.

The Nursing Council of New Zealand considered Kennedy was in a "position of trust, working with elderly and vulnerable patients" and clearly exploited that relationship for her own gain.

The Nursing Council ordered Kennedy's name be removed from the register and set no date when she might apply for reinstatement.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)