Nurse drug diversion cases

402 documented cases, 1983–2026.

Figures are derived from the 931 case records collected on this site, not from any official total. A record counts here when its Role field, or failing that its title, names one of these roles: 100 from the Role field, 302 from the title.

Roles counted: Registered nurse (RN) (91) · Licensed practical / vocational nurse (22) · Nurse practitioner / APRN (15) · Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) (12) · Nurse (role unspecified) (262).

Monetary penalties stated

Median: $5,500
Smallest $500 · largest $4,500,000

Median of 37 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 35 of 402 records. 367 records state no dollar amount.

Custodial sentences stated

Shortest: 3 months
Longest: 120 months (10 years)

63 prison or jail terms stated in 63 of 402 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.

Drug classes involved

Opioids285
Other controlled substance65
Benzodiazepines14
Stimulants8
Anesthetics / sedatives6
No drug stated44

A record naming drugs from two classes counts in both.

States with the most records

Massachusetts22
Iowa18
Michigan16
Connecticut15
Mississippi15
Wisconsin15
Oregon14
New Hampshire11

52 states and territories in all; every state.

Settings involved

Hospital / health system159
Other / not classified150
Long-term care25
Ambulatory surgery / OR9
Home health / hospice6
Fertility / reproductive2
Retail pharmacy1
No setting stated50

Other roles

Cases

Newest first · page 4 of 17, 76–100 of 402

  1. Contract Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Morphine at Kentucky Elder-Care Facility 2025-03-25 · Lawrenceburg, Kentucky · Other / not classified
  2. Kentucky Nurse Sentenced Over Elder-Care Morphine Substitution 2025-03-24 · Lawrenceburg, Kentucky · Other / not classified
  3. South Carolina Practical Nurse Charged Over Nursing Home Tramadol Theft 2025-03-18 · Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Other / not classified
  4. Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Fentanyl at Miami Hospital 2025-03-18 · Miami, Florida · Hospital / health system
  5. Registered nurse admitted obtaining and consuming oxycodone without a prescription and had controlled-substance administration and documentation errors involving two patients; voluntarily surrendered license 2025-03 · Other / not classified
  6. Nursing home nurse accused of stealing Tramadol and oxycodone/acetaminophen from residents 2025-03 · Myrtle Beach, SC · Other / not classified
  7. ICU Nurse Arrested for Stealing 17 Fentanyl IV Bags at Brandon Hospital 2025-02-24 · Brandon, Florida · Hospital / health system
  8. Nevada registered nurse reprimanded and ordered to continuing education for drug diversion 2025-02
  9. Nevada advanced practice nurse placed on probation for drug diversion and regulatory violations 2025-02
  10. Nevada advanced practice nurse placed on probation for drug diversion and improper delegation 2025-02
  11. Nevada advanced practice nurse placed on probation for drug diversion and falsified records 2025-02
  12. Birmingham-area nursing home nurse diverted hydrocodone tablets; pleaded guilty to theft 2025-02 · Birmingham, AL · Long-term care
  13. Registered nurse removed propofol from workplace for personal use 2025-01 · Other / not classified
  14. Registered nurse alleged to have diverted IV Dilaudid from a worksite an automated dispensing cabinet by logging it out and pocketing it 2025-01 · Other / not classified
  15. West Virginia Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · West Virginia · Hospital / health system
  16. Virginia Nurse Convicted in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Virginia · Hospital / health system
  17. Tennessee Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Tennessee · Other / not classified
  18. New Hampshire Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · New Hampshire · Other / not classified
  19. Nebraska Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Nebraska · Other / not classified
  20. Michigan Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Michigan · Other / not classified
  21. Indiana Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Indiana · Other / not classified
  22. Iowa Nurse Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2025, case 2) 2025 · Iowa · Hospital / health system
  23. Iowa Nurse Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Iowa · Other / not classified
  24. California Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · California · Other / not classified
  25. Arkansas Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Arkansas · Other / not classified

← Back to page 1 · ← All roles · Cases by state · Check your own controls with the free assessment

Disclaimer

Case summaries are based on public records (DOJ press releases, court documents, licensing-board orders, news reports). Charges are allegations unless a conviction is noted. Analysis is educational, not legal advice.

Would your controls have caught these?

The free self-assessment scores your own controls: 8 sections, 63 weighted items, a score for each section, and a PDF you can take to your committee. No account or login.

Start the free assessment