WA Nurse Banned After Using Elderly Patient’s Credit Card for Online Shopping Spree
FNA NEWS, 23rd Of September, 2026
A former nurse in Western Australia has been barred from returning to nursing registration until 2028 after using an elderly patient’s credit card to make online purchases worth hundreds of Australian dollars.
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Ferzana Khan was working on a geriatric medical ward in June 2024 when she found a patient’s credit card on the floor while handling the patient’s belongings. Rather than returning the card or securing it, Khan used the card details to make online purchases.
According to reports of the tribunal proceedings, Khan used the card to purchase 55 items from Shein Australia, with the transaction valued at A$759.58.
She also attempted two additional online transactions using the patient’s card details. One was for 55,000 Pakistani rupees, approximately A$296, while another was for 108,000 Pakistani rupees, approximately A$572. Both transactions were unsuccessful.
The Shein order was reportedly sent to an acquaintance’s address. The acquaintance collected the package, with most of the items subsequently disposed of.
Khan resigned from the hospital in September 2024 before an employer investigation into the incident could be completed. Police later searched her home in November 2024 and recovered two items from the Shein order.
Criminal conviction followed
Khan was subsequently charged with offences relating to theft and obtaining a benefit by fraud. She pleaded guilty in March 2025.
The criminal proceedings resulted in a 12-month community-based order, along with an order to compensate the patient with about A$759, a A$700 fine and A$300 in costs. Her nursing registration was also suspended.
The professional regulatory case was then considered separately.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulates nurses and midwives in Australia in partnership with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Australian nursing registration is required before a person can practise under protected nursing titles such as registered nurse or enrolled nurse.
Tribunal extends consequences for nursing career
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In the latest disciplinary decision, Khan was prohibited from providing health services for 18 months, subject to the conditions set out by the tribunal. She was also ordered to pay approximately A$3,000 in costs associated with the regulatory proceedings.
However, the consequences extend beyond the 18-month prohibition. Reports of the tribunal decision state that Khan will not be eligible to apply for nursing registration again until 21 March 2028.
The tribunal also noted that Khan had pleaded guilty to the criminal offences and had expressed remorse, regret, guilt, embarrassment and shame over her conduct.
The proceedings also considered personal circumstances Khan was experiencing around the time of the incident, including caring for children, working part-time, clinical placement commitments and financial difficulties.
Despite those circumstances, the professional regulatory process resulted in restrictions on her ability to return to registered nursing.
Why the case matters to nursing
For nurses, the case highlights an important part of professional practice that extends beyond clinical competence: trust.
Patients, particularly older or vulnerable patients, routinely entrust healthcare workers with access to personal belongings, financial information, medical records and other private aspects of their lives.
Professional regulation therefore considers conduct that occurs outside direct clinical care when it raises questions about a practitioner’s suitability to remain registered.
Australia’s Nursing and Midwifery Board states that its regulatory role includes supporting safe practice and managing concerns relating to nurses’ professional conduct.
The case also demonstrates that a criminal conviction and professional disciplinary proceedings can have separate consequences. A court may impose criminal penalties, while the professional regulator can separately consider whether the person’s conduct affects their registration and ability to practise.
For the patient involved, the financial loss was ultimately compensated. For Khan, however, the consequences have extended into her professional career, with her return to nursing registration delayed until 2028.
The case serves as a reminder that nursing is built not only on clinical knowledge and technical skills, but also on professional integrity, accountability and the trust placed in nurses by patients.
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Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support nurses across Africa.
Durowoju Abisola is a registered nurse, nurse writer and On-Air Correspondent at Fellow Nurses Africa (FNA), passionate about nursing leadership, health education and advocacy.
Through journalism, storytelling and content creation, she amplifies important conversations around nursing, healthcare and the experiences of nurses in Nigeria. She is committed to using her voice and professional knowledge to educate the public, challenge misconceptions and inspire the next generation of nurses.
