A registered nurse at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids was caught on surveillance video footage stealing and consuming residents’ morphine and other painkillers while on duty. Despite clear signs of impairment, including staggering, slurred speech and falling asleep at work. The facility’s management failed to investigate reports of missing narcotics. The nurse’s intoxication from the medication was so severe that she required assistance to walk and was later found unconscious in her vehicle, putting vulnerable residents at risk.
History of Violations Demonstrates Negligent Employment Standards
The nursing home drug theft incident reported by Iowa Capital Dispatch underscores fundamental problems in nursing home employment practices. In March 2024, the facility was cited for failing to conduct adequate background checks on workers and faced substantial fines for various violations in 2023. The director of nursing’s admission claims she “forgot” to investigate missing morphine reports, demonstrating a critical lack of professional standards. This incident illustrates the urgent need for nursing homes to provide better protection to vulnerable residents by:
- Implementing a stringent hiring process that includes a thorough background check
- Stronger drug inventory controls
- Comprehensive training of staff
- Increased supervision and oversight by administrators
Contact a Dedicated Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
If someone dear to you has been harmed by nursing home negligence or abuse, we encourage you to seek legal help.
At PKSD, our experienced Wisconsin nursing home abuse attorneys are deeply committed to ensuring at-fault nursing homes are held responsible for their negligence and seeking the justice your loved one deserves.
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