Nurse Steals Pain Meds, Banned from Practice

0:00It's March 17th. Here's your Sydney news in two minutes. A registered nurse in Adelaide has been banned from practicing for three months after stealing restricted pain medications from the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Victoria shields to drugs like Hydromorphone and Pregaballon from the Oncology Ward for her own use back in early 2021. She accessed the hospital's automated dispensing cabinet and made false entries to get the meds, including withdrawing 24 doses that should. Have gone to patients. In one case, she even kept ways from a patient's dose instead of disposing of it properly. Shields faced charges from South Australia police, pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft, and got a two-year good behavior bond without convictions. The tribunal ruled her actions were professional misconduct, tied to an opioid addiction that started in her 20s, affecting her ability to judge, patient safety. The South Australian civil and administrative tribunal reprimanded her and set strict conditions for her return, like regular drug screening, no solo.

1:03Shifts and supervised access to medications. Officials call these rules onerous but necessary to prevent repeats. Shields has shown remorse, sought treatment, and made real progress since her effective suspension in February 2021. She's now clear to resume nursing under those tight safeguards. This episode is brought to you in partnership with our sponsor. Headphones in a pillow, simple idea, surprisingly addictive, S-O-L-I-S-O-L-P-L-O-D-C-A-I.