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 8 of 17, 176–200 of 402

  1. Minnesota home hospice nurse diverted controlled substances from 24 patients 2023-06-29 · Home health / hospice
  2. Surgery Center RN Sentenced for Swapping Fentanyl for Saline in ~450 Vials 2023-06-27 · Jensen Beach, Florida · Other / not classified
  3. New Hampshire hospital paid $2 million to settle DEA record-keeping allegations after fentanyl diversion 2023-06-22 · Hospital / health system
  4. Cheshire Medical Center Pays $2 Million After Nurse Stole Fentanyl IV Bags 2023-06-22 · Keene, New Hampshire · Hospital / health system
  5. Raleigh-Area Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with Surgical Patients' Painkillers 2023-05-22 · Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina · Other / not classified
  6. Cape Girardeau Nurse Admits Taking Leftover Fentanyl from Hospital 2023-05-05 · Cape Girardeau, Missouri · Hospital / health system
  7. Surgical practice nurse sentenced for tampering with fentanyl, morphine, and meperidine and replacing them with saline 2023-05 · Raleigh, NC · Other / not classified
  8. Chicago-Area Rehab Center Nursing Director Pleads Guilty to Diluting Patients' Morphine 2023-04-11 · Chicago, Illinois · Other / not classified
  9. Hospital nurse accused of diverting fentanyl from CHI Health St. Elizabeth 2023-04 · Lincoln, NE · Other / not classified
  10. Missoula Hospital Nurse Sentenced for Diverting Opioids Flagged by Distribution Audit 2023-03-22 · Missoula, Montana · Hospital / health system
  11. Kansas hospital nurse sentenced for tampering with fentanyl and hydromorphone vials 2023-03-13 · Hospital / health system
  12. Kansas Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with Fentanyl and Hydromorphone Vials 2023-03-13 · Overland Park, Kansas · Hospital / health system
  13. Virginia Nurse License Suspended Over Roanoke-Area Hospital Opioid Diversion 2023-03 · Roanoke and Blacksburg, Virginia · Hospital / health system
  14. Licensed practical nurse removed controlled substances from workplace while also working under a suspended license and submitting a fraudulent Board letter 2023-03 · Other / not classified
  15. Vermont registered nurse's license conditioned after attempted diversion of medications from a facility medication cart 2023-02-27 · Other / not classified
  16. Massachusetts Nursing Home Nurse Sentenced for Diluting a Dementia Patient's Morphine 2023-01-13 · Northborough, Massachusetts · Long-term care
  17. Massachusetts Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Fentanyl at Hospital and Surgery Center 2023-01-10 · Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  18. South Dakota Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2023) 2023 · South Dakota · Other / not classified
  19. New Hampshire Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2023) 2023 · New Hampshire · Other / not classified
  20. North Carolina Nurse Charged in Opioid Diversion Case (2023) 2023 · North Carolina · Other / not classified
  21. Michigan Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2023) 2023 · Michigan · Other / not classified
  22. Massachusetts Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2023, case 2) 2023 · Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  23. Massachusetts Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2023) 2023 · Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  24. Indiana Nurse Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2023) 2023 · Indiana · Other / not classified
  25. Illinois Nurse Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2023) 2023 · Illinois · Hospital / health system

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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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