Former Nurse In Summit County Arrested, Suspected Of Drug Theft
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (CBS4) - A 47-year-old former nurse turned herself in to authorities on Saturday after a warrant was filed for her arrest on charges of stealing painkillers while on the job.
Kimberly Jeanne Burgans, who worked at Summit Medical Center in Frisco, tentatively faces charges that include obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, a felony, and theft, a misdemeanor.
Authorities with say she "misappropriated doses of injectable hydromorphone" that was supposed to be for patients she was caring for. The district attorney representing Summit County said an arrest affidavit states Burgans tested positive for the painkiller fentanyl, which she didn't have a prescription for.
The court documents state hospital staff found Burgans had more hydromorphone fentanyl for her patients than other registered nurses in December and again in January.
Burgans was a registered nurse in Colorado for two years and was fired on Jan. 28. A date for her first court appearance hasn't been set.
Authorities said an investigation into the case is ongoing.
District Attorney Bruce Brown said in a prepared statement Saturday that "drug misappropriation by hospital staff is rising at an alarming rate" across the country.
In February a former surgery technician at a hospital in Englewood was charged in federal court with stealing and swapping a syringe while on the job.
St. Anthony Summit Medical Center Statement
St. Anthony Summit Medical Center has clear clinical guidelines and policies surrounding the safe handling, dispensing and disposal of narcotics. Our number one priority is always the care and safety of our patients.
In accordance with St. Anthony Summit Medical Center's practices and policies, an internal investigation was conducted and found there is no reason to believe that any patients were harmed or compromised in this situation. Burgans was terminated from the hospital on Jan. 27, 2016 for violating hospital policies.
We remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure our processes and procedures are followed and are committed to employing national guidelines and best practices to ensure the safety of our patients.
