Sex advances earn Wairarapa nurse suspension

A nurse found guilty of behaving inappropriately toward two student nurses has been identified as Featherston man Jessie Wilson.

Wilson was found guilty of professional misconduct in late June after talking to two student nurses about rape and sex, and trying to touch them. He has been suspended from practice for three months, ordered to pay costs of $19,500 and fined $2000.

Wilson is also barred for three years from taking on a leadership role, including the supervision of student nurses, and can only work in supervised roles for 18 months. As well, he has been ordered to do a course on ethical behaviour and boundaries within six months of commencing work.

The nurse was subject to a New Zealand Health Practitioners' Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) hearing in Masterton in May, at which the two former student nurses - Ms E and Ms M - gave evidence of inappropriate behaviour and comments he made in 2010 while working at the Wairarapa District Health Board.

Wilson worked at the mental health unit from 2001 to 2010, and was dismissed following an internal investigation into the complaints by the two student nurses.

Ms M complained that Wilson had moved very close to her while they were reading a document, touching her breast and stomach, in October 2010.

That incident had followed two attempts by Wilson to touch her leg while they were in a car together, talking to her about his views on sex and rape, and his inviting her to his bach.

Ms E also complained Wilson touched her leg while they were in a car during her work placement in mid-2010, talking to her about rape, telling her he wanted to have sex with her and trying to kiss her.

Wilson denied the allegations and told the tribunal in May he had tried to be a "shining light" in his mentoring role with the students.

Wairarapa DHB's director of nursing, midwifery and allied health Helen Pocknall said the DHB was comfortable with the tribunal's findings and accepted its decision.

Although she did not want to comment, she said it was safe to say the DHB would be unlikely to hire Wilson again.