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B.C. nurse disciplined for narcotics theft

The unnamed nurse was diagnosed with a medical disability related to the theft and practice issues.
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Nurses are not immune to substance use disorders.

B.C.’s College of Nurses and Midwives has disciplined a nurse for diversion of narcotics from their employer for their own use.

On May 19, a college inquiry committee panel approved an agreement between the college and a nurse to address January 2021 to June 2022 issues related to narcotic diversion for on-duty, personal use.

The nurse was diagnosed with a medical disability related to the theft and practice issues.

“They made admissions and have agreed to comply with treatment recommendations,” the college said.

The nurse has voluntarily agreed to a minimum of three years of medical monitoring, a two-year restriction on accessing and handling narcotics, disclosure of treatment recommendations to relevant employers and no voluntary overtime for the equivalent of six months of nursing practice.

“The agreement will remain in place for a minimum of four years,” the college said.

​The nurse’s name has been withheld to protect their health privacy.

The college is one of 18 regulatory bodies empowered under the Health Professions Act to regulate health professions in B.C. It regulates the practice of four distinct professions: nursing, practical nursing, psychiatric nursing and midwifery. 

Similar legislation in other self-regulated areas such as the legal and notary public professions also allows citizens to know about discipline issues in the public interest.

The inquiry committee said it was satisfied that the terms would protect the public.