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 6 of 17, 126–150 of 402

  1. New Hampshire hospital nurse anesthetist pleaded guilty after substituting saline for operating-room fentanyl 2024-06 · Hospital / health system
  2. ICU nurse accused of diverting patients' liquid fentanyl and replacing it with tap water at a Medford, Oregon hospital 2024-06 · Medford, OR · Hospital / health system
  3. Dodge County Hospital Nurse Diverted Oxycodone Using Automated Dispensing Cabinet Swap 2024-05-24 · Dodge County, Minnesota · Hospital / health system
  4. Registered nurse sentenced to probation for stealing OxyContin from a hospital narcotics cabinet and replacing it with other medications 2024-05 · Canton, SD · Hospital / health system
  5. Nurse at Texas Health Hurst-Euless-Bedford diverted fentanyl, morphine, and other controlled substances from an automated dispensing cabinet 2024-05 · Bedford, TX · Other / not classified
  6. ICU nurse sentenced for tampering with fentanyl and hydromorphone at Ardmore hospital 2024-04 · Ardmore, OK · Hospital / health system
  7. Arkansas nurse self-reported diverting and consuming hydrocodone from employer 2024-04 · Cabot, AR · Other / not classified
  8. Arkansas rehabilitation facility nurse self-reported diverting hydrocodone 2024-04 · Other / not classified
  9. Labor & Delivery Nurse Stole Pain Meds from 50+ New Mothers 2024-03-27 · Waterloo, Iowa · Hospital / health system
  10. Rhode Island School Nurse Took Possession of a Discontinued Controlled-Substance Medication Prescribed to a Student 2024-03-18 · Rhode Island · Other / not classified
  11. Oregon registered nurse accused of pulling narcotics and failing to document administration or wastage 2024-03 · Other / not classified
  12. Hospital nurse anesthetist accused of diverting fentanyl and propofol intended for surgical patients 2024-01 · Las Vegas, NM · Hospital / health system
  13. Hospice Nurse Stole Morphine from Dying Patient, Replaced with Cranberry Juice 2024-01 · Clifton, Texas · Home health / hospice
  14. Utah Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Utah · Other / not classified
  15. Texas Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Texas · Other / not classified
  16. South Dakota Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · South Dakota · Other / not classified
  17. Oregon Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Oregon · Other / not classified
  18. Ohio Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Ohio · Other / not classified
  19. Ohio Nurse Named in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Ohio · Other / not classified
  20. New Hampshire Nurse Convicted in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · New Hampshire · Other / not classified
  21. Nebraska Nurse Faces License Action Over Opioid Diversion (2024) 2024 · Nebraska · Other / not classified
  22. Minnesota Nurse Convicted in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Minnesota · Home health / hospice
  23. Massachusetts Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  24. Kentucky Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Kentucky · Other / not classified
  25. Iowa Nurse Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2024, case 2) 2024 · Iowa · 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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