PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County nursing assistant has had her license suspended for allegedly holding a patient’s mouth shut while he resisted swallowing his pills last November, the state Department of Health announced Tuesday.
Rhonda M. Hampton, 46, was placed on the state Department of Social and Health Services’ residential care services registry, restricting her ability to practice as a nursing assistant.
She was one of 12 health care providers in the state who received disciplinary action for “unprofessional conduct.”
Health care providers charged with unprofessional conduct have 20 days to respond to the Health Department in writing, after which time the case then enters a settlement process.
Hampton’s place of employment was not available, Health Department spokeswoman Sharon Moysiuk said Wednesday.
Hampton, who received a credential to practice as a registered nursing assistant in April 2011, was served a statement of the charge Jan. 16. She failed to respond to the allegation by the Feb. 5 deadline.
Hampton can petition the state for a reinstatement of her nursing assistant credential in two years.
