A TEARFUL nurse was this week struck off for placing patients and colleagues in danger by ignoring advice and ploughing ahead with her own ideas for treatment.

Dilys Karen Turner, 41, who had a reputation for using colourful language at work, made a series of Òprofessional judgementsÓ overruling doctorsÕ orders and breaching safety protocol at North Hampshire Hospital.

In one instance a top surgical consultant was forced to cancel a weekend sailing and rush back to the hospital, which treats patients from the Bordon and Alton area, after the staff nurse ignored his instructions regarding treating a patient.

A conduct committee on Tuesday found that a string of practices employed by Turner on the hospitalÕs high-dependency C2 surgical ward between May and July 2001 were outmoded and she even risked her own health.

The mother-of-two, from Farnham, was also found to have ÒinappropriatelyÓ accepted gifts and drove a patient to London to catch a train to Scotland.

She also asked health care assistants to carry out tasks which they are not qualified to do, left them in charge of the ward while she Ònipped offÓ to smoke a cigarette, and failed to follow some safety and hygiene procedures.

Valerie Morrison, the chairwoman of the Nursing and Midwifery Council committee, said: ÒYou have failed to demonstrate your ability to practice as a professional nurse.

ÒAnd you have shown a completely irresponsible attitude and a total disregard for the policies and procedures there to protect patients, other employees and yourself.Ó