B.C. nurse with ‘causal relationship’ with narcotics placed on conditions

A B.C. nurse who was "diverting" narcotics for their own use has had conditions put on their practice for the next five years.

According to a Feb. 2 B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives decision, the registered nurse admitted to having a "causal relationship" with narcotics and took them for personal use while off-duty.

The nurse's name and where they work are redacted in the decision. The decision said the regulator is withholding the nurse's name so as not to identify their personal health information and their condition.

The decision said the nurse diverted the narcotics for personal use in November 2021.

The case is the second in recent weeks where nurses have been caught taking hospital narcotics. An unnamed licenced practical nurse had admitted to stealing narcotics for patients so they could take them themselves over a seven-year period. The nurse was diagnosed with a substance use disorder and suspended for three months.

In the current case, the registered nurse wasn't suspended but they did have had conditions placed on their practice.

The nurse signed a consent agreement agreeing to regular doctor's appointments and compliance with the doctor's treatment recommendations. They will have to disclose these treatment recommendations to their employer and have limited access to handling narcotics and they'll be monitored.

There are also limits on working overtime and night shifts and practising in high acuity or critical care areas.

READ MORE: B.C. nurse who failed to assess patient, then lied, gets suspended

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.