Missing Fentanyl Leads to Nurse Suspension in Portsmouth

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has suspended the nursing privileges of a Virginia woman who had been working in Portsmouth after an incident in April, according to a press statement.

Lisa Lucas, a registered nurse who had been working at Portsmouth Regional Hospital as part of a nurse licensure compact, has been suspended after the state’s nursing board held a hearing about allegations of missing Fentanyl in April 2015.

According to a report, Lucas is alleged to have diverted 12 vials of the Fentanyl during a review of her documentation of Fentanyl administration. Later, investigators allegedly found more missing drugs.

“The allegations are that Ms. Lucas removed the Fentanyl but had no documented waste, return, or administration,” according to Laurel A. O’Connor, an assistant Attorney General from the Administrative Prosecutions Unit, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau. “A review of Ms. Lucas’s documentation in May gave rise to a further allegation that another 12 vials of Fentanyl were unaccounted for. Additional medications that were unaccounted for in Ms. Lucas’s documentation included Meperidine, Hydromorphone, and Lorazepam.”

Yesterday, the nursing board issued an emergency suspension and another hearing is scheduled for June 18.

This is the second time in two weeks that the NH AG has issued an emergency suspension.

Kerry Bridges, a nurse who worked at Concord Hospital, as well as in Maine, was suspended in late May for allegedly diverting drugs.

Read the full reports and accusations in PDF format on the NH AG’s website.

In a statement, Nancy Notis of Portsmouth Regional Hospital said it ”proactively manages a strong drug diversion policy” at the facility.

“Through routine surveillance practices we became aware of the situation with Ms. Lisa Lucas and took immediate and appropriate action; including reporting it to the state,” she said. “Based on our investigation there was no threat to patients. We take very seriously our commitment to our patients, employees, physicians and visitors.”

Notis added that no further comment about this personnel matter will be issued.