Nurse Veljko Lakicevic suspended after making sexualised comments to graduate nurses
A Melbourne nurse has been suspended after making “inappropriate and sexualised” comments to two junior colleagues nurses including repeatedly calling one “Ms Kardashian” because of her body shape.
South East
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A creepy nurse who referred to a junior colleague as “Ms Kardashian” because of her body shape has been suspended.
Veljko Lakicevic was suspended for three months from January 2 by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia after a VCAT hearing into several “sexualised and inappropriate” comments he made to two graduate nurses.
VCAT heard Lakicevic, who worked as a clinical nurse specialist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital since May 2017, approached two graduate nurses in the Rehabilitation Unit during January 2018 and asked both of them on separate occasions if they “had a boyfriend” or if they had “hooked up with many men in Melbourne”.
Lakicevic, who was rostered on with one of the nurses to “buddy” them, repeatedly referred to her as “Ms Kardashian”.
When the nurse asked why he referred her by that name he responded: “It’s because of your body shape”.
Between February and May 2018, Lakicevic approached another nurse in a quiet area and said that she should “hook up” with a certain male team member.
When she asked why, Lakicevic replied “He looks fit, and when they are fit, you know what that means …” and winked.
During May 2018, Lakicevic approached the same nurse again, who was looking at her phone, and asked her what she was looking at and leaned over her to see her phone.
She responded that she was looking at clothes, with Lakicevic looking closer at her phone saying: “Oh you shouldn’t have shown me that, now I’m imagining you in tight clothing.”
The tribunal heard both nurses submitted written complaints on May 31 and June 6 to the hospital’s management regarding Lakicevic’s behaviour, with one saying she felt “uncomfortable” and “intimidated” around him when he was in charge.
The other nurse said she felt victimised by a person in a “position of power”, and that she felt her personal safety was in danger as he continually approached her.
The board said that Lakicevic’s behaviour was “serious” because his conduct resulted in numerous complaints, on multiple occasions, over a period of some months, to two junior nursing colleagues.
VCAT heard in Lakicevic’s career of 17 years, this was this was the only time there had been a notification to the board.
It was heard Lakicevic regretted his conduct and was deeply remorseful and co-operated with the investigation and immediately admitted the allegations and apologised to his two colleagues.
He was dismissed from his employment in June 2018 and has not worked since and is now reliant on government benefits. He has not undertaken any courses or counselling as he does not have the financial means, VCAT heard.
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It was determined by the tribunal Lakicevic had already served 16 months suspension, which was sufficient to achieve the objects of general deterrence and protection of the public.
“We regard that the imposition of a further period of suspension would be punitive and not appropriate,” the VCAT judgment read.
“We are also of the view that the protection of the public is served by conditions requiring Mr Lakicevic to undergo additional education and to have a mentor.”