MDH: Unqualified Nurse Allegedly Sexually Assaults Patient
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A nurse from a Maple Grove home care facility is being investigated after allegedly touching a patient inappropriately last June.
According to the complaint, during a visit on June 9, 2014 the nurse was helping the patient get ready for bed when the nurse offered to give the patient a back rub that led to alleged inappropriate touching.
The patient said she had told the nurse that her back was sore and he offered to give her a back rub.
The nurse began rubbing her back with lotion. He then rolled the patient onto her back and continued to touch her breasts and inner thighs.
According to the complaint, the patient said the nurse touched her everywhere except her pubic area.
The nurse then also reportedly kissed the patient three times on the lips.
The report states that the patient told the nurse that it was wrong and the nurse then left the room.
Officials said the patient has a degenerative disease, but her mind is still intact. She is alert and aware and only requires assistance with activities of daily living.
Interviews revealed the patient had no history of false sexual abuse reports, and the patient reported the same story to a nurse, a therapist, a social worker, a case manager and the investigating officers.
The nurse refused to be interviewed. He did not know which patient complained about him, but said in a written statement that at the time he worked at the facility a female patient was angry with him because he would not do a range of motion on the patient's arm.
The nurse said he didn't know why any client would be upset with him and denied any inappropriate touching in his written statement.
According to MDH, in 2011 the nurse had been disqualified to work in any position that gave him direct contact with people receiving services from programs licensed by the Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Department of Health, from programs serving kids licensed by the Department of Corrections and from unlicensed Personal Care Provider Organizations.
The nurse violated this by continuing to work at facilities providing direct care.
