A NURSE who left his unit at a Nottingham hospital to have a cigarette while there were no other qualified members of staff present has been thrown out of the profession.
Paul Rigby, who worked at the children's development centre in the City Hospital, left to have a smoke despite having been told that the other qualified member of staff was also on a break.
In doing so, he left a student nurse he was supposed to be mentoring to inject a patient with morphine.
Mr Rigby was also found to have signed the controlled drugs book saying he had administered the morphine, despite not being present at the time.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council last month suspended Mr Rigby for six months while his fitness to practice in the future was investigated.
He has now be struck off, and will not be allowed to apply to be reinstated for at least five years.
Nursing and Midwifery Council panel chairman Martyn Griffiths said: "This was a single incident and no there is no evidence of repetition, but Rigby has demonstrated no remorse for his actions.
"Rigby placed the child patient at unwarranted risk of harm."
He added: "The misconduct is fundamentally incompatible with staying on the register."
Mr Rigby was working a morning shift on July 16, 2011, when the incident happened.
At the time of the incident there were nine children on the ward.
In Mr Rigby's defence, his lawyer previously told the hearing that testimonials provided from his colleagues stated they have faith in his ability.