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 7 of 17, 151–175 of 402

  1. Iowa Nurse Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Iowa · Other / not classified
  2. Georgia Nurse Charged in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2024) 2024 · Georgia · Other / not classified
  3. Hospital registered nurse's license revoked after fentanyl tampering and diversion 2023-12 · Janesville, WI · Hospital / health system
  4. Iowa Nurse Pleads Guilty to Diverting Controlled Substances from Life Care Center 2023-11-30 · Carroll, Iowa · Long-term care
  5. Boston-Area ER Nurse Sentenced for 412 Unauthorized Opioid Withdrawals 2023-11-15 · Boston, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  6. Tennessee Board of Nursing suspends registered nurse over Dyersburg diversion 2023-11
  7. Tennessee Board of Nursing suspends registered nurse over Crossville diversion 2023-11 · Crossville, Tennessee
  8. Tennessee Board of Nursing accepts surrender of registered nurse over Pulaski diversion 2023-11 · Pulaski, Tennessee
  9. Iowa Nurse Pleads Guilty to Diverting Fentanyl from Waterloo Hospital via False Wasting 2023-10-11 · Waterloo, Iowa · Hospital / health system
  10. Jacksonville Surgical Center Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering With Hydromorphone 2023-10-03 · Jacksonville, Florida · Other / not classified
  11. VA nurse pleaded guilty to stealing fentanyl, morphine and hydromorphone 2023-10 · Aurora, CO · Hospital / health system
  12. Registered nurse diverted and consumed Oxycodone on-shift in cardiac surgery unit 2023-10 · Hospital / health system
  13. Traveling nurse fired from Little Rock hospital after positive fentanyl test; Arkansas board ordered cease and desist 2023-10 · Hospital / health system
  14. Agency nurse accused of diverting fentanyl at Watertown hospital; interim suspension 2023-10 · Watertown, WI · Hospital / health system
  15. Janesville Hospital Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Fentanyl Vials 2023-09-14 · Janesville, Wisconsin · Hospital / health system
  16. Louisiana registered nurse placed on stayed suspension and probation on a charge of diverting non-narcotic medication 2023-09-13
  17. Louisiana nurse ordered probated on any reinstatement after charges of controlled-substance diversion, falsified records and a criminal conviction 2023-09-13
  18. Out-of-state compact nurse ordered to stop practicing in Louisiana on charges of controlled-substance diversion and failure to cooperate 2023-09-13
  19. Out-of-state compact nurse ordered to stop practicing in Louisiana on charges including diversion of a controlled substance and a drug screening violation 2023-09-13
  20. Registered nurse convicted of tampering with fentanyl citrate vials and obtaining controlled substance by fraud at Chamberlain hospital 2023-09 · Chamberlain, SD · Hospital / health system
  21. ICU nurse at Mercy Hospital in Ardmore pleaded guilty to stealing fentanyl and hydromorphone and swapping pain medication with tap water 2023-09 · Ardmore, OK · Hospital / health system
  22. Hospital nurse tampered with fentanyl vial, replacing drug with saline 2023-09 · Pierre, SD · Hospital / health system
  23. Sioux City Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Opioids from Hospital Employer 2023-08-31 · Sioux City, Iowa · Hospital / health system
  24. Ardmore ICU Nurse Pleads Guilty to Replacing Patients' Pain Medication With Tap Water 2023-08-31 · Ardmore, Oklahoma · Hospital / health system
  25. Nebraska Practical Nurse License Revoked Over Narcotic Count Discrepancies 2023-08-30 · Nebraska

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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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