Nurse Banned for Two Years After Using Unreasonable Force Against Elderly Resident

A registered nurse in Adelaide has been banned from providing health services for two years after a tribunal found she used unreasonable and unnecessary force against an elderly aged care resident living with dementia.

The decision followed a series of incidents at an aged care facility in Adelaide’s north in November 2023, several of which were captured on CCTV.

Incidents Captured on CCTV

The nurse, Su Jin Han, was working at the aged care facility on November 12, 2023, when a series of confrontations occurred involving a resident with a complex medical history that included dementia.

The South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard that the incidents began with an argument involving raised voices.

CCTV footage later showed Han repeatedly holding the resident’s wrists and using physical force during the confrontation.

Tribunal Finds Force Was Unnecessary

The tribunal found that Han’s actions amounted to inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour.

Members of the tribunal concluded there had been no clinical need for the force used against the resident.

The tribunal described the conduct as a serious abuse of the nurse’s position of authority over an extremely vulnerable person.

Further Incident Later That Day

The tribunal heard that another confrontation occurred later the same day.

The resident was seen throwing small objects towards the nurses’ station and attempting to strike Han. The nurse responded by taking the objects from the resident and attempting to use them against her.

The tribunal considered the events together when assessing Han’s professional conduct.

Fatigue Raised During the Hearing

Han told the tribunal that she had been extremely tired at the time of the incidents and believed fatigue had affected her behaviour.

At the time, she was working full-time as a nurse at Queen Elizabeth Hospital while also working part-time at the aged care facility.

The tribunal heard that she had worked a double shift the previous day and was working with only one day off every two weeks.

However, the tribunal said fatigue did not excuse the conduct and described the workload as potentially dangerous.

Nurse Shows Remorse but Loses Registration

The tribunal found that Han had shown remorse and insight into her behaviour. She had also not worked as a nurse for some time and was employed as a social worker.

Han told the tribunal that she was devastated by what had happened and hoped to eventually return to nursing.

Despite recognising her remorse, the tribunal reprimanded her and cancelled her nursing registration for two years.

She is also prohibited from providing any health service during that period unless she successfully obtains re-registration.

Source: ABC News, October 6, 2026.