Nigerian-born nurse, Chimzuruoke Okembunachi, has had her nursing registration cancelled by an Australian tribunal after being found to have repeatedly slept during night shifts at an aged care facility in western Sydney, in a ruling that raised serious concerns about patient safety.

The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, ruled that Ms. Okembunachi’s conduct in March 2024 amounted to professional misconduct and posed significant risk to vulnerable elderly residents under her care, resulting in the cancellation of her licence to practise as a registered nurse.

Ms. Okembunachi, 25, who moved to Australia from Nigeria in 2018, began working at Hardi Aged Care in Guildford, western Sydney, in February 2024. However, concerns about her performance emerged within weeks of commencing employment.

According to tribunal findings, between March 13 and March 27, 2024, she was rostered as the sole registered nurse on night shifts, responsible for supervising three to four assistants-in-nursing (AINs) and tending to about 100 elderly residents. On at least six occasions, she reportedly fell asleep while on duty instead of performing critical nursing duties.

Evidence presented before the tribunal showed that on three nights, residents did not receive their prescribed doses of morphine because Ms. Okembunachi was asleep, and on another occasion she instructed an AIN — who was not authorised to administer medication — to give Panadol to a resident, reportedly saying, “It’s okay, sister, just give it to him.”

In one incident on the night of March 21–22, a colleague attempted to rouse her by switching on a nurses’ station light, only for her to switch it off and return to sleep moments later, the tribunal was told.

Concerns about her conduct were formally raised by two nursing colleagues on March 27, 2024, prompting her suspension the next day. Ms. Okembunachi resigned approximately 20 minutes after receiving a suspension notice, declining an invitation to a disciplinary meeting.

Addressing the tribunal, Ms. Okembunachi acknowledged her actions and expressed remorse, admitting that acceptance of night shifts while managing personal stressors — including her medical studies at Western Sydney University — contributed to the incidents. She stated, “These events caused me significant stress… In hindsight, I should not have applied for, or accepted the position at Hardi.”

Despite her contrite attitude, the tribunal determined that deregistration was necessary to protect patient welfare, noting that her conduct “had the potential to endanger the lives of patients under her care.” Ms. Okembunachi is barred from applying for a review of the cancellation order for at least nine months.

Ms. Okembunachi has not returned to nursing practice since the suspension but continues her medical studies, supported by her family and a Centrelink Student Allowance.