Surgery Center Nurse Charged with Stealing Fentanyl
Surgery Center Nurse Charged with Stealing Fentanyl
Florida surgery center nurse allegedly signed out twice the amount of fentanyl needed for surgeries, pocketing the rest for personal use.
A Merritt Island Surgery Center nurse has been accused of systematically stealing the opioid fentanyl, a pain medication often used with other medications as an anesthetic during surgery.
After a months-long investigation, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office investigators said this nurse would sign out twice as much fentanyl as the anesthesiologist needed and keep the excess for herself, according to Sheriff’s Office reports.
Office staff at the surgery center soon noticed the discrepancy between how much the nurse was signing out and how much was actually being used during operations. Deputies were called Dec. 1 of last year after an audit was conducted.
The nurse was immediately suspended without pay when the investigation began.
In all, detectives said the nurse stole 67 ampoules — amounting to 134 milliliters — of fentanyl along with one vial of Versed and one vial of propofol, other drugs used during surgeries.
The nurse was charged with grand theft of a controlled substance and has been released on bond, and declined to be interviewed by detectives.
Approximate date(s) of the diversion:
12/01/2017
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Merritt Island Surgery Center
220 N Sykes Creek Pkwy #101, Merritt Island, FL 32953
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Ambulatory Surgical Center
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?
Local Law Enforcement
