Kelsey never imagined her nursing career would take this turn. After a difficult separation and a serious car accident, she was prescribed narcotics by her doctor to manage a back injury. But when her prescription ended, Kelsey found herself unable to cope without the medication. Desperate, she began using narcotics from her workplace—medications that were meant to be discarded. Now, Kelsey is diverting drugs intended for her clients.
How did she get here?
Kelsey’s dependence grew quietly. When her doctor stopped prescribing opioids, she was already taking more than the recommended dose. She started diverting medication from her unit, initially taking doses that clients had declined and falsifying their health records to cover her tracks. As her need increased, she began volunteering for extra shifts and requesting assignment changes to gain more access to narcotics. She would routinely withdraw the maximum dose ordered for clients, administering only half and keeping the rest for herself.
A turning point
One day, while preparing an injectable dose for a client, Kelsey pocketed the leftover medication instead of disposing of it properly. Unable to wait until the end of her shift, she told the charge nurse she was unwell and left early to use the drug. Over the next few weeks, Kelsey’s use escalated. She began taking injectable narcotics from work and sought out opportunities to administer medications for colleagues’ clients, especially those prescribed the narcotic.
Soon, Kelsey crossed another line—she injected herself in the staff bathroom during her shift. She noticed her colleagues becoming suspicious as she regularly exceeded her allotted break times. The guilt and fear were overwhelming. Kelsey knew her actions were wrong, but she felt powerless to stop. She recognized she needed help, but didn’t know where to turn. The fear of losing her job and nursing licence kept her silent, even as her situation became more desperate.
What happened to Kelsey?
While on leave, Kelsey was diagnosed with substance use disorder by a doctor. Her recovery plan included treatment, connecting with a recovery community, and enrolling in a medical monitoring program.
After completing treatment, Kelsey's doctor determined that Kelsey was in early recovery and was fit to return to work, provided she participated in ongoing medical monitoring and received workplace supports. The doctor also recommended temporary restrictions on narcotics access. Kelsey's employer worked with her to accommodate these recommendations.
Meanwhile, after receiving the complaint, BCCNM investigated and gathered evidence regarding the impact of Kelsey's behaviour on her nursing practice and public safety.
Following the investigation, Kelsey and BCCNM reached a consent agreement. Kelsey accepted the findings, and the agreement set limits and conditions on her nursing registration to reflect the recommended workplace restrictions and protect the public.
With the consent agreement in place, Kelsey began working with her advocate and employer to support her return to practice.