Glory Ogechi Nwachukwu-Udaku was also accused of demonstrating a lack of clinical knowledge
04:00, 15 Apr 2026
Woodlands Hospital(Image: Google Maps)
A nurse in North Yorkshire has been struck off the register after being accused of multiple counts of misconduct.
Nurse Glory Ogechi Nwachukwu-Udaku, who worked at Woodlands Hospital in Darlington, was accused of several accounts of misconduct in a number of areas. As a result, Glory was handed a striking-off order by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Between October 2021, and February 2023, Mrs Nwachukwu-Udaku was accused of behaving in an unprofessional manner, demonstrating poor record keeping, demonstrating poor infection control, and demonstrating a lack of clinical knowledge.
Concerns were raised around the nurse’s inappropriate use of her mobile phone, and her taking extended breaks. The report also said some concerns had been raised around her “conduct and competence in the theatre which included alleged inadequate hand sanitisation and maintaining a sterile field in a theatre environment”.
In addition, following the breakdown of Mrs Nwachukwu-Udaku’s relationship with her mentor, a new mentor was assigned who found her to be rude, argumentative, and/or aggressive towards any mentors who attempted to offer training and advice. In the end, she was dismissed from her post at the hospital on January 27, 2023.
Admitted to ‘tape-up’ punctured fluid bag
Seperately, while a nurse at Mount Vale Care Home, Mrs Nwachukwu-Udaku, she was accused fo administering half a Lorazepam tablet to a resident who had not been prescribed the medication, taking it from the medical supply for a different resident.
During a hearing, Mrs Nwachukwu-Udaku admitted to using her phone during work time and partially admitted to taking extended breaks, which was later proved in its entirety. It was also proved she had been rude, aggressive, and/or argumentative towards mentors, and had participated in surgical procedures she had no experience of without raising this with a mentor or doctor.
She admitted to using abbreviated terms to record a medical procedure, and it was proved she had pre-completed documents before a procedure commenced. She admitted to not amending documents properly, and demonstrated a poor clinical handwashing technique.
The report also said she admitted to puncturing and/or intending to ‘tape-up’ a punctured fluid bag, it was proved she had thrown a hyperdermic needle in a waste bin rather than a sharps bin, and it was proved she had de-sterilised herself on one or more occasions once scrubbed in when putting microscope handles on or leaning on an unsterilised trolly. It was proven she had not consistently made sure a machine had finished its cycle, and she was unable to mount blades on a knife.
It was also proved she was unable to inform a surgeon that the instrument count was correct during a procedure, and she was unable to mount a suture on a needle holder. She admitted to handing the keys to an operating theatre to a healthcare assistance, asking him to return them.
‘Dishonesty’ about administerating drugs
The allegation of her administering Lorazepam was also proven, and she did not record this in the patient’s medical record. She admitted to not escalating the patient’s deteriorating condition and it was proved she removed it from another patient, without writing it in this patient’s record either.
In addition, it was proved she was dishonest about the Lorazepam and she had attempted to conceal it.
The report said Mrs Nwachukwu-Udaku had put the two care home residents at risk of harm, and that her dishonesty was spontaneous, but persistent. It also said she had demonstrated “limited insight” into this conduct.
In mitigation, the report said Mrs Nwachukwu-Udaku made two full and partial admissions to the charges at an early stage, and said there was some evidence of completed training. She had also faced personal difficulties at the time, and there were some positive testimonials, and the charges arose while she was transitioning from work in Nigeria to the UK.
‘Serious nature of misconduct’
Despite this, Mrs Nwachukwu-Udaku was struck off due to the serious nature of the misconduct. The report said: “Honesty and integrity are fundamental tenets of the nursing profession and in attempting to conceal that you had given an unprescribed medication to a vulnerable resident you placed them at a risk of harm. In the panel’s view, your behaviour and conduct raise fundamental questions about your professionalism.
“Given that you did not uphold your duty of candour and your behaviour is indicative of a deep-seated and harmful attitudinal concern, the panel considered that public confidence in the profession and the NMC as its regulator could not be maintained if you were not removed from the Register.
“As set out previously, the panel found that you have failed to meaningfully reflect on your conduct and develop your insight to the extent that public safety, public confidence in the profession, and professional standards could be maintained. The panel was mindful that despite you having a significant period of time since theincident, and thereafter since the handing down of facts, to develop your insight you have not.
“Having regard to the seriousness and nature of your conduct and behaviour,and to your limited insight, the panel determined that there is no realistic prospect thateven after a period of suspension, you would have gained insight or strengthened your practice to reduce the risks identified.
“Your conduct and behaviour were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse, and are fundamentally incompatible with you remaining on the register. The panel was of the view that the findings in this particular case demonstrate that your conduct and behaviour were so serious that to allow you to continue practising would not protect the public and would undermine public confidence in the professionand in the NMC as a regulatory body.
“Balancing all of these factors and after taking into account all the evidence before itduring this case, the panel determined that the appropriate and proportionate sanctionis that of a striking-off order.
“Having regard to the effect of your conduct in bringing the profession into disrepute by adversely affecting the public’s view of how a registered nurse should conduct themselves, the panel has concluded that nothing short of this would be sufficient in this case. In balancing all of the factors, the panel had regard to the financial hardship this order would cause. However, the panel considered that your interests were outweighed by the need to protect the public, promote confidence in the nursing profession, and declare and uphold proper professional standards.
“The panel considered that this order was necessary to mark the importance of maintaining public confidence in the profession, and to send to the public and theprofession a clear message about the standard of behaviour required of a registered nurse.”
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