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 5 of 17, 101–125 of 402

  1. Alabama Nurse Convicted in Opioid Diversion Case (2025, case 2) 2025 · Alabama · Long-term care
  2. Alabama Nurse Convicted in Opioid Diversion Case (2025) 2025 · Alabama · Long-term care
  3. Osage Beach Nurse Anesthetist Diverted Fentanyl from Hospital Operating Rooms 2024-12-16 · Osage Beach, Missouri · Hospital / health system
  4. Yale New Haven Hospital Nurse Tampered with Lorazepam Vials 2024-12-11 · New Haven, Connecticut · Hospital / health system
  5. Travel Nurse Diverted Hydromorphone Using Patients' Health Information 2024-12-11 · Beckley, West Virginia · Hospital / health system
  6. Michigan Registered Nurse Fined and Probated Over Alpena Drug Diversion 2024-12-07 · Alpena, Michigan
  7. Michigan Registered Nurse Fined and Probated Over Allendale Drug Diversion 2024-12-07 · Allendale, Michigan
  8. Mid-Valley Hospital Pays $15,000 Penalty Over Nurse's Hydromorphone Theft 2024-11-15 · Omak, Washington · Hospital / health system
  9. Concord Hospital Nurse Diverted Fentanyl from ICU Patient's IV Line 2024-10-07 · Concord, New Hampshire · Hospital / health system
  10. WakeMed nurse charged with stealing fentanyl from IV bag 2024-10 · Raleigh, NC · Other / not classified
  11. Dedham Rehabilitation Center Nurse Tampered with Oxycodone Syringes 2024-09-17 · Dedham, Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  12. VA Nurse Diverted Narcotics from Dying Veterans at West Haven VA 2024-09-12 · West Haven, Connecticut · Hospital / health system
  13. Hawaii nurse alleged to have swapped a patient's Adderall tablets for Seroquel 2024-09-09 · Other / not classified
  14. Former nurse accused of replacing fentanyl with tap water in IV drips at Oregon hospital 2024-09 · Medford, OR · Hospital / health system
  15. Tennessee Board of Nursing suspends registered nurse over Riceville diversion 2024-08 · Riceville, Tennessee
  16. Tennessee Board of Nursing suspends registered nurse over Memphis diversion 2024-08 · Memphis, Tennessee
  17. Tennessee Board of Nursing disciplines registered nurse over Soddy Daisy diversion 2024-08 · Soddy Daisy, Tennessee
  18. Tennessee Board of Nursing accepts surrender of practical nurse over Gallatin diversion 2024-08 · Gallatin, Tennessee
  19. Tennessee Board of Nursing accepts surrender of advanced practice nurse over Hendersonville diversion 2024-08 · Hendersonville, Tennessee
  20. Maui nurse sanctioned after alleged diversion of Adderall from patient medication packet 2024-08 · Other / not classified
  21. Grand Forks Surgery Center Nurse Suspended Over Suspected Medication Diversion 2024-07-25 · Grand Forks, North Dakota
  22. Catholic Medical Center Pays $300,000 Over CRNA's Fentanyl Diversion 2024-07-03 · Manchester, New Hampshire · Hospital / health system
  23. Okanogan County nurse admitted diverting controlled substances; hydromorphone removal cited 2024-07 · Okanogan County, WA · Other / not classified
  24. Registered nurse charged with stealing oxycodone and hydrocodone/acetaminophen from residents at Prince George Healthcare Center 2024-06 · Georgetown, SC · Other / not classified
  25. Registered nurse and advanced practice nurse charged after removing hydromorphone without patient orders and admitting to diverting controlled substances from the workplace 2024-06 · Okanogan County, Washington · Other / not classified

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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.

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