Ms Rhondda Lee Stratten – Registered Nurse – Unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct

28 October 2022

The Health Care Complaints Commission prosecuted a complaint against Registered Nurse Rhondda Lee Stratten before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’).

The complaint alleged several failures relating to Ms Stratten’s treatment of a man who was found deceased in his cell at Parklea Correctional Centre on the morning of 7 December 2017.

It was alleged that on 6 December 2017, while working at Parklea Correctional Centre, Ms Stratten failed to:

• Implement the treatment plan ordered by the treating medical officer for the patient.
• Ensure that the afternoon shift nurse unit manager and nursing staff were provided with a clinical handover of the patient as a patient of concern.
• Ensure that clinical information regarding the patient’s clinical management details were recorded in the written handover or patient notes.
• Ensure that Clinic medication was prepared by the same practitioner who was responsible for administering the medication.

In its decision of 25 October 2022, the Tribunal found the allegations proven and found Ms Stratten guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct.

The Tribunal will determine protective orders following a further (Stage 2) hearing.

The full decision can be found here: NSW Caselaw

Further Information

For further information, contact the Executive Officer of the Health Care Complaints Commission, on 02 9219 7444 or send an email to media@hccc.nsw.gov.au.

The information in this media release is correct at the time of publication. Orders may change; for example, conditions may no longer apply. For current information regarding the status of a registered health practitioner, including any conditions that currently apply, please check the National Register at www.ahpra.gov.au.