AN intensive care nurse who blamed "burnout" for a catalogue of clinical blunders has been sanctioned.

An inquiry found that mistakes by Margaret McFayden had affected a "significant" number of patients at two West of Scotland hospitals.

They included incorrectly filtering the blood of a patient who had suffered multiple organ failure at an intensive care ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

She also turned up for work, twice when she was unfit to do so, on one occasion smelling of alcohol.

Colleagues reported that she was slurring her words and repeating, "I'm a good nurse, I'm fit" before she agreed to go home.

A panel of the Nursing and Midwifery Council said the public would be shocked to learn that an experienced nurse had made such a high number of errors. At least 16 charges were found proved.

Ms McFayden was dismissed but a month later got a job as an agency nurse at Monkland's Hospital in Airdrie.

While working there, she admitted making a series of errors including forgetting to administer drugs and pain relief to a number of patients.

One patient reported that he woke up during the night to find the nurse standing next to his bed and "staring at him."

He told another member of staff that he had felt scared by her actions.

The nurse blamed stress and "burnout" for her errors, which happened between June 2014 and April 2016, and said: "This mitigation is in no way intended to excuse my actions or inactions, in relation to the unacceptable care provided to the patients in my care."

The inquiry was told that Ms McFayden is now working for NHSGGC in a Dermatology outpatients ward at Dykebar Hospital for the past nine months and no concerns had been raised.

She has been issued with a 12-month conditions of practice order, which means she can only work supervised by a senior member of staff.