A nurse who manipulated nursing students into helping her steal 25 face masks and a handful of wipes for her overseas trip has been banned for 12 months and ordered to pay $10,000 in costs. 

Although Selvarani Burwood was unlikely to reoffend, the penalty was needed to deter other health practitioners from stealing hospital supplies, the WA State Administrative Tribunal said last Friday.

“The penalty imposed on the practitioner must leave other health practitioners in no doubt that if they engage in conduct similar … they will face a significant penalty,” the tribunal wrote.

“Also, a health practitioner who is responsible for the supervision or training of students in their health profession must be expected to always act honestly and ethically and demonstrate trustworthiness and integrity of a very high standard.”