A Maryland nurse faces charges for allegedly stealing painkillers from a state veterans home. The woman was reportedly seen on video at the beginning of her work shift with three “blister packs” of Tramadol HCL and only two packs at the end; in addition, there was a suspicious request made for additional amounts of the medication well before it should have been necessary to restock the supply.

Nurses accused of medication theft can face not only prosecution for theft but also discipline from their state's board of nursing (BON). In some of these situations, the BON may offer the nurse an alternative to a discipline program, one that suspends the disciplinary process provided the nurse completes a specified treatment program. If you are a nurse who has been accused of medication theft or diversion by your employer or BON, contact the LLF Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team for help. We can be reached at 888.535.3686 or by using our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.

The Alleged Theft From the Maryland Veterans Home

The nurse in question is accused of taking 21 Tramadol HCL tablets from the Maryland Veterans Home, where it turns out, authorities allege, she had been working under an alias. According to the news report, her license had been suspended in Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland, with the Maryland suspension resulting from allegations of narcotics misuse and theft. In addition, authorities believe that the woman was working under a false name “in multiple jurisdictions.”

Alternative to Discipline Programs

Most states have alternative-to-discipline programs that can be an option for nurses accused of medication theft or diversion, or of alcohol or drug abuse. These programs typically have rigorous requirements, and most of them usually require the nurse to stop working for a substantial period of time while treatment is beginning. The programs will closely monitor the nurse's return to practice, and it may be several years before the nurse is allowed to freely practice nursing again.

Whether or not to accept an offer from your state's BON to enroll in an alternative-to-discipline program is not a decision to take lightly. The LLF Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team can help you decide whether to accept an offer from your state's BON to enroll in one of these programs or whether there are other options that may work better in your situation.

Working Under an Assumed Name

A note about working under an alias: It's probably not a surprise that this is not allowed. Nurse Practice Acts in almost every state prohibit working under someone else's license, and it's considered a very serious offense. The entire concept of licensing is designed to help make sure that patients receive a certain level of care. That concept is destroyed when a nurse works under someone else's license.

The LLF Law Firm Can Help You Protect Your Nursing License

If you're a nurse who has been accused of misconduct, it's very important to take the allegation seriously and to cooperate with your state BON's investigation of the allegations against you. That doesn't mean you should not be working with an experienced professional licensed defense attorney. You have rights while you're being investigated, and your attorney will help you protect those rights while also making sure you meet your obligation to cooperate with the BON during the process. At the LLF Law Firm, our Professional License Defense Team has helped nurses and other health care professionals from all across the country defend against misconduct allegations. No matter what the type of misconduct is you're being accused of, our attorneys are ready to fight for your license and your future.

Call us today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation to learn more about how the LLF Law Firm can help you protect your nursing license.