Swedish nurse reported for patient 'death wave'
A nurse in southern Sweden has been reported for abuse at a senior care centre after she allegedly waved to a colleague with the hand of a recently-dead resident.
The incident occurred at a nursing home in Helsingborg last summer, when an employee entered a room where a person had just died, to leave flowers beside the bed.
When she entered she discovered two of her colleagues were already there. One of them, an assistant nurse, reportedly picked up the deceased's hand and proceeded to wave, saying, "Thanks for the good care" and laughing, reported the Helsingborg Dagbladet newspaper.
Managers were not informed of the incident, however, until recently. The city took on responsibility and began investigating after several other complaints came in, such as claims that the nurse had shouted at residents.
To one she even reportedly said, "I bet you have abused your children, and that's why they don't visit." At other times she ate residents' food - or simply did not serve their meals.
The nurse was also reportedly neglectful at work, signing that she had given medicine or completed other tasks when in fact she had not.
The city has now reported the woman to Sweden's Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Inspektionen för vård och omsorg -IVO).
The woman has admitted to a relaxed attitude to giving medicine, but has denied the other claims.
Nursing home management has stated that they will be informing staff in the future that it is their duty to report such abuse.
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The incident occurred at a nursing home in Helsingborg last summer, when an employee entered a room where a person had just died, to leave flowers beside the bed.
When she entered she discovered two of her colleagues were already there. One of them, an assistant nurse, reportedly picked up the deceased's hand and proceeded to wave, saying, "Thanks for the good care" and laughing, reported the Helsingborg Dagbladet newspaper.
Managers were not informed of the incident, however, until recently. The city took on responsibility and began investigating after several other complaints came in, such as claims that the nurse had shouted at residents.
To one she even reportedly said, "I bet you have abused your children, and that's why they don't visit." At other times she ate residents' food - or simply did not serve their meals.
The nurse was also reportedly neglectful at work, signing that she had given medicine or completed other tasks when in fact she had not.
The city has now reported the woman to Sweden's Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Inspektionen för vård och omsorg -IVO).
The woman has admitted to a relaxed attitude to giving medicine, but has denied the other claims.
Nursing home management has stated that they will be informing staff in the future that it is their duty to report such abuse.
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