Tag: opioid narcotics

Hospital Conducted Incomplete Background Check on Nurse Suspected of Opioid Theft October 4, 2022 The State of Iowa has cited an eastern Iowa hospital. The hospital allegedly hired a nurse without running a background check, then later fired them for the suspected theft of opioid narcotics. According to the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, a registered nurse working at a hospital in Iowa City took a 100-microgram vial of Fentanyl, an opioid pain medication, to give to a patient. However, the nurse did not provide the patient with any medicine. Instead, the nurse reported that they disposed of the medication 90 minutes after obtaining it. Also, no doctor had ordered Fentanyl for the patient. Twelve days later, the nurse obtained another patient's 100-milligram vial of Fentanyl; again, no doctor ordered the drug. Hospital records also show that the patient did not receive the Fentanyl; there is nothing to show what happened to the drug. It is necessary to know that anywhere between 20 to 50 milligrams register as high doses of Fentanyl. Because of these high dosages, the hospital grew suspicious of these incidents and later fired the nurse. However, state inspectors revealed that the hospital did not report the incidents to the Department of Inspections and Appeals as possible acts of dependent adult abuse. State inspectors reviewed the hospital's hiring process when they employed the nurse. They discovered that the hospital had not conducted a full background check on the person. A check performed by a third-party agency revealed that the nurse had two criminal convictions. However, inspection reports do not provide details of the convictions, such as the seriousness of the crimes. This restraint is because inspection reports are available to the public. After finding the convictions, the hospital did not receive approval to hire the nurse, yet did so regardless. During this time, the hospital also failed to check whether the nurse had records of non-criminal findings of abuse. In addition, the hospital never ensured the nurse's name did not appear on Iowa's Sex Offender Registry. The state has cited the hospital for two regulatory violations related to employee background checks and patient abuse. However, according to Iowa State laws, they have not assessed any penalties or fines since hospitals are not subject to state fines for regulatory violations. This case shows how important it is to conduct a full background check on potential employees. This step is crucial to avoid citations or possible lawsuits and protect anyone the employee comes into contact with while working. The best way to ensure reliable and risk-free hiring is by partnering with a background check provider you trust. The right provider can guarantee industry compliance. Discover the benefits of Pre-employ’s seamless background checks for your business. Contact a Sales representative today. Source

Tag: opioid narcotics

Hospital Conducted Incomplete Background Check on Nurse Suspected of Opioid Theft

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