Nurse with History of Thefts Steals Patients’ Painkillers

Cassandra Pierce, 32, of Ottumwa, has been sentenced to three years of probation.

In May 2016, while working at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, Pierce allegedly stole morphine from one patient by signing out 10 times the amount of the drug ordered by a doctor and keeping the excess.

Ten days later, she allegedly signed out 200 milligrams of fentanyl for a patient, administered 25 milligrams and retained the rest.

A week after that, she allegedly took 100 milligrams of fentanyl, gave 25 milligrams to the patient and kept the rest.

Originally charged with three counts of prohibited acts and one count of tampering with records, Pierce agreed to a plea deal that resulted in her conviction on a single count of prohibited acts. She was granted a deferred judgment that will result in the conviction being expunged from her record if she successfully completes her probation.

In 2014 and 2015, Pierce worked at two other hospitals and a care facility where, according to the Iowa Board of Nursing, she allegedly misappropriated patient medications.

In March 2016, she agreed to have her license placed on probation for one year.

Pierce worked for Genesis from November 2015 to June 2016. Nine days after she was hired by the hospital, and six months before the alleged thefts that occurred there, Pierce was criminally charged with theft and prohibited acts stemming from her conduct as a nurse at the Vista Woods nursing home in Ottumwa.

In that case, prosecutors say that in August 2015, Pierce stole a vial of morphine from an emergency kit at Vista Woods.

She initially was charged with theft and prohibited acts but later agreed to a plea deal that resulted in a conviction on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, resulting in a sentence of two years’ unsupervised probation.

In June 2016, Pierce’s employment at Genesis ended and her license was placed on probation. In May 2017, Pierce surrendered her nursing license.