A care home nurse who lost her temper with a 66-year-old dementia patient and pushed her to the floor has been spared a ban from the profession.

Osazuwa Ahuja, an agency nurse, had been working at Two Acres Care Home, in Fakenham Road, Taverham, when the incident happened on May 22, 2014.

When the resident – who was new to the home and 'volatile' – swiped at medication and cups on a trolley, Ahuja pushed her by the shoulders with both hands, causing her to fall to the floor on her back, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard. Ahuja claimed she was simply trying to stop the things falling on to the floor when the resident walked into her hand and staggered backwards.

But the NMC panel found proven the charges of pushing the woman and subsequently failing to check if she was injured. Claims that she shouted: 'Jesus Christ, what are you doing? You can stay there now' were not proven. Ahuja's fitness to practise was found impaired and she was issued with a 12-month conditions of practice order. Panel chairman Nicholas Cook said the panel had concluded that Ahuja's conduct 'fell short of that expected from a registered nurse' but also said her actions were a 'one-off incident which has not been repeated before or since'. The 12-month conditions of practice order means Ahuja must work with her line manager or supervisor to create a personal development plan which must be sent to the NMC. She must also inform any future employer of the conditions of practice order that she is subject to.