Florida Nurse Disciplined for Drug Diversion

Missing drugs at medical facilities, criminal charges and driving to a substance-abuse evaluation while drunk led to a Santa Rosa County licensed practical nurse getting disciplined, the Florida Department of Health said in the restriction order issued Sept. 8, 2020 and starts with missing drugs at Gulf Breeze Courtyard.

Despite staff noticing that patients who didn’t normally ask for pain medication requested it during Scott’s shift, he was promoted from floor nurse to resident care director on Sept. 15, 2019. With the new job and title came the only key to the overflow medication cart.

Scott resigned Oct. 6, the day after an argument with a supervisor got him suspended. He refused to return the key to the cart. After a locksmith did his work the next day, a count determined 73 Ativan tablets, 25 ml of liquid oxycodone and five hydrocodone tablets were missing.

As Gulf Breeze Courtyard learned of missing drugs, Scott started work as a floor nurse at assisted living facility The Beacon, also in Gulf Breeze. The order says The Beacon staff noticed the same suspicious pattern of drug distribution noticed at Gulf Breeze Courtyard.

An administrator requested all the nurses undergo drug testing. Scott decided to resign on Dec. 10, 2019.

Reeves gave the aforementioned analysis and diagnosed several alcohol-use disorder. Among Scott’s possible other problems were substance use disorder, personality disorder and other mental health issues. Reeves recommended a treatment program that’s at least partially inpatient, a full psychological evaluation and monitoring by the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN).

As Scott hasn’t undergone the treatment, he’s restricted from practicing nursing until IPN or an IPN-approved evaluator lets the Department of Health know he’s safe to be a nurse again.