A veteran nurse who fell asleep while caring for a seriously ill two-year-old will keep her job.

Hristina Koteva was working for Maidstone-based Unity Care Solutions in August 2015 when she was tasked with caring for the sick toddler, who had a tracheotomy and was on a ventilator.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council misconduct hearing was told she took over from the mother at 10pm and was due to work until 7am but at 3am the father found her asleep in the child’s bedroom.

He and his wife called her name three times before she woke up.

During an investigation it was found Koteva – who is now working for Guy and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and lives in Tonbridge – had failed to keep notes during her shift and had lied about administering medication at 6am.

She was dismissed from the company.

The panel heard it was an isolated incident in Koteva’s 37-year career and only warranted an 18-month caution, meaning her employers or any prospective employer will be notified of the incident.