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November 23, 2022 - 7:00 PM
Two B.C. nurses are practicing with conditions after they were caught stealing narcotics and trying to cover it up.
The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives came to a consent agreement with both nurses this month, putting conditions on their practice.
The decisions don't name the nurses, give their titles or explain where they were practicing when they were found to be stealing drugs.
One nurse was found to be "diverting" narcotics from their employer and falsifying records to conceal their efforts, according to a Nov. 20 decision from the College.
It's not clear how long they were stealing drugs, but the College became aware after someone launched a complaint.
After a medical assessment, the nurse was found to be "fit to practice," but it included recommendations for future treatment.
The nurse will now have to submit for regular drug tests and disclose their future treatment plan. They will also have their practice limited in some way to prevent any future thefts, according to the decision.
The nurse will work with those conditions for at least three years.
The next day, another nurse was reprimanded, also for theft and attempt to conceal it.
The nurse was found to be "diverting" narcotics from the workplace, being impaired at work and engaging a client to help hide their actions, according to a Nov. 21 decision.
Again, the nurse was found to be fit to practice after a medical assessment, provided they abide by treatment recommendations.
The second nurse will have their access to narcotics limited and be required to submit reports from doctors treating them for four years as the College monitors whether they are still fit to practice.
This nurse will be on conditions for four years, according to the decision.
Despite the similarity between the two, it's not clear why their conditions differ by a year.
Under the Health Professions Act, the College can decide not to publicly name a nurse in its decisions if they are dealing with an addiction.
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