A former Iowa nurse pleaded guilty to stealing pain medication meant for more than 50 maternity patients and replacing it with saline, ABC affiliate KCRG reported Oct. 12.
Christina Olson, RN, 43, worked in the labor and delivery unit at a hospital in Waterloo, Iowa, starting in 2019. In January 2022, she began withdrawing pain medications from a secure dispensing machine on the pretense that a patient had an order for the medication. She then administered it to herself, replaced the drug with saline, and completed paperwork that billed the patients' insurance for the drugs, according to court documents.
The hospital began investigating in March after a patient who had a cesarean section told hospital staff she had not received any pain medication, The Courier reported Sept. 28. The following day, Ms. Olson underwent a drug screening and tested positive for opiates and marijuana. She admitted to officials that she diverted the medication for personal use.
In August 2022, Ms. Olson relinquished her license and agreed to not seek reinstatement for a year.
She faces up to 12 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.