A NURSE has been accused of putting a patient's glass eye in a fizzy drink and drawing a smiley face on an MRSA victim's hernia.

Christine Mitchelson, 53, also allegedly bombarded other nurses with racist jibes on a 28-bed ward of the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.

Staff nurse Marie Kaplanis told the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) yesterday how Mrs Mitchelson drew a smiley face on a patient's umbilical hernia, described as the size of an orange.

At the time, the patient had been isolated after being diagnosed with MRSA. She described how she saw the drawing when she entered a cubicle after hearing laughter.

She said: "I asked who had done it and the registrant Mitchelson said 'I have'. I just shook my head in disbelief."

Ms Kaplanis said she later asked Mrs Mitchelson why she had done it, and she said: "Just for a laugh."

Mrs Kaplanis told the panel how Mrs Mitchelson also made racist comments to her about other hospital staff.

Mrs Mitchelson faces a catalogue of allegations surrounding her behaviour on ward 48 of the RVI between 2001 and 2004.

The hearing was told she handled patients roughly, grabbing one man by the pyjama bottoms and pushing him into a chair.

She also allegedly slapped a patient on the back of the head and dragged a woman out of bed before pushing her into a chair.

Piers Arnold, for the NMC, told the hearing in London: "Allegations of inventing patients' observations was perhaps the most serious of all in view of the obviously dangerous consequences."

Mr Arnold said the reported incidents of placing a patient's glass eye in a colleague's Coca Cola and drawing a picture of a face on a patient's hernia, demonstrated her "inability to distinguish between humour and inappropriate behaviour"

The married mother-of-three also gave the wrong drugs to patients, including a double dose of insulin to one patient, the hearing was told.

Mitchelson, of Denton Burn, Newcastle, did not attended the central London hearing due to poor mental and physical health, and was not represented.

She denies 12 charges relating to rough and degrading treatment of patients, failing to record patients' vital observations correctly and ordering other staff to do the same, making racist remarks about colleagues, incorrect administration of drugs to patients and inappropriate behaviour.

The hearing continues today. Mrs Mitchelson could be struck off if the allegations are proved.