A SENIOR nurse who admitted giving beer to a teenage 'nil by mouth' patient during a training exercise can keep practicing.

Jacqueline Knight drew 5ml of alcohol into a syringe and dropped it onto the disabled 17-year-old boy's lips at the Lavender House Care Home in Colchester.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council decided at a disciplinary hearing in London that Knight will be allowed to continue practicing despite the incident.

She admitted administering the beer without consent and failing to record her actions in the patient's care plans.

The NMC panel has imposed a 12 month conditions of practice order, which requires her to take a quality and diversity course.

She is also restricted to remain working only for her current employer, and must provide a reflective piece of writing on the incident.

Her employer must also provide feedback to the NMC about her progress.

The wheelchair-bound patient at the care home was tetraplegic after suffering massive head injuries in a car accident in 1999.

Knight had been demonstrating how to administer medication via the patient's gastronomy tube.

She placed a few drops of beer onto his lips to 'distract' him.

Paul Andrews, for the NMC, said the incident happened when Knight was employed by the Provide care company as a deputy senior nurse.

He said: “During the investigation, Mrs Knight admitted administering 5ml of beer to Patient A and that she did not update the patient's care plan to this.”

The boy had very limited movement and communication skills and needed a brace to support his spine.

One of Knight's colleagues was so concerned by her behaviour she reported her to the home manager later that day.

Knight, who was present at the hearing and representing herself with the support of her husband, admitted the three charges against her.

The NMC received a referral about Mrs Knight on 13 August 2014.