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January 04, 2025 - 12:00 PM
A BC nurse who swiped opioids and worked while high has had conditions placed on them by the regulator.
According to a Jan. 1 BC College of Nurses and Midwives decision, the registered nurse pilfered the narcotics between January and May 2024 and practised while impaired.
The nurse was later diagnosed with an opioid use disorder and agreed to treatment.
"(The regulator) recognizes that nurses and midwives, like any member of the public, may grapple with health issues that may impact their ability to practice safely, competently, and ethically," the decision read. "BC College of Nurses and Midwives expects that registrants will work only when they are fit to do so and will remove themselves from practice when they are unwell."
The College said the registered nurse isn't named in the decision so their personal health information isn't disclosed.
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Last year a handful of nurses were caught taking narcotics from work, and some worked while impaired.
Nurses altered paperwork to cover the theft and one nurse replaced the narcotics with over-the-counter drugs.
In 2023, 11 nurses were disciplined for swiping narcotics with punishments varying from having conditions placed on their practice to a three-month suspension for a nurse who'd been doing it for seven years. In this case, the nurse has agreed to be medically monitored for three years and to return to nursing with limitations in place so they can not access opioids.
The regulator said it's satisfied that the terms will protect the public.
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