A Montana nurse suspected of illegally obtaining opiates from four healthcare facilities in three communities recently appeared for arraignment on an indictment, according to the US Attorneyās Office.
The indictment alleges that the nurse unlawfully obtained oxycodone from a Montana community hospital from March 2021 to June 2021. Additionally, she is suspected of unlawfully obtaining oxycodone and hydrocodone from a health and rehabilitation center from August 2021 to November 2021, unlawfully obtaining oxycodone and hydrocodone from another rehabilitation center in October 2021, and unlawfully obtaining oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine from a nursing home in November 2021.
The nurse pleaded not guilty to four counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances. If she is convicted of the most serious crime, she faces a maximum of four years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release.
Issue:
Drug diversion is a growing problem in healthcare. It is estimated that approximately 15% of healthcare workers will struggle with drug dependence at some point in their career, and it is with this population of healthcare workers that drug diversion usually occurs. All leaders in healthcare should be aware of the warning signs of a controlled substance disorder and be prepared to address any acts of drug diversion properly and quickly. Drug diversion can be a felony and can result in the loss of license for nurses and other healthcare personnel.
Discussion Points:
- Review your policies and procedures on preventing, identifying, and responding to drug diversion. Update as needed.Ā
- Train appropriate staff on actions that can be taken to prevent, identify, and respond to any suspicion of drug diversion, and what should be done if it occurs. Document that the trainings occurred, and place the signed document in each employeeās education file.Ā Ā
- Periodically audit to ensure that all controlled substances are accounted for on each shift, and that proper documentation has occurred.Ā
