ICU Nurse Faces Charges, Took Fentanyl from Patients
ICU Nurse Faces Charges, Took Fentanyl from Patients
Registered nurse in Colorado Intensive Care Unit stole fentanyl from the IV bags of ventilated patients.
Katie Elizabeth Muhs, age 34, of Littleton, CO, was sentenced for her felony conviction for illegally obtaining fentanyl through fraud and deception while on the job as a Registered Nurse.
Muhs was employed as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in Colorado in 2019 when she used her position to divert fentanyl, a schedule II controlled substance, for her own personal use. She admitted that between June 2019 and September 2019, she stole fentanyl by removing it from the IV bags of ventilated patients using a sterile syringe. She also admitted to stealing fentanyl remaining in vials of the drug after patient administration. The defendant stated she would remove the excess drug from the vials and replace the stolen drug with saline, then have a fellow nurse witness her “waste,” or dispose of, the saline.
The diversion of pain medications was stopped by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, DEA and the Kansas City field office’s criminal investigation team. DEA: “We want it to be known that healthcare professionals who take advantage of patients in need by stealing their medications will be held accountable”.
Where the Diversion Occurred:
St. Anthony Hospital's
11600 W 2nd Pl, Lakewood, CO 80228
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Hospital
Person Diverting:
Katie Elizabeth Muhs
Profession of the person diverting:
Nurse
Has the incident been reported?
e.g. to local law enforcement, county board of health, state licensure board, and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Yes
To whom has the incident been reported?
Licensure Board, e.g., Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy, Medical Board, etc.
