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BOARD OF NURSING vs. CAROL O'DONNELL, 87-001471 (1987)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 87-001471 Latest Update: Aug. 20, 1987

Findings Of Fact Respondent, Carol O'Donnell (O'Donnell), was at all times material hereto licensed as a registered nurse in the State of Florida, and held license number 1498442. On May 15, 1986, O'Donnell was employed as a registered nurse at Broward General Medical Center, Broward County, Florida, on the 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. shift. At or about 7:30 p.m., O'Donnell abandoned her employment, without notice or authorization, and thereby left her patients unattended. Although the period that elapsed between the time O'Donnell abandoned her position and the time her absence was discovered was apparently of short duration and there was no proof any patient suffered from her absence, her conduct constituted a departure from and failure to conform to the minimum standards of acceptable and prevailing nursing practice in the community.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that Respondent, Carol O'Donnell, be reprimanded, and that an administrative fine of $500.00 be imposed upon her. DONE and ENTERED this 20th day of August, 1987, in Tallahassee, Florida. WILLIAM J. KENDRICK Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 20th day of August, 1987. APPENDIX Petitioner's proposed findings of fact are addressed as follows: 1. Addressed in paragraph 1. 2-4. Addressed in paragraph 2. 5. Addressed in paragraph 3. COPIES FURNISHED: William M. Furlow, Esquire Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Ms. Carol O'Donnell 109 North Birch Road, #4 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33312 Judie Ritter, Executive Director Board of Nursing 111 East Coastline Drive Room 504 Jacksonville, Florida 32201 Van Poole, Secretary Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Joseph A. Sole General Counsel Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750

Florida Laws (1) 464.018
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF NURSING vs JACQUELINE JEAN, C.N.A., 18-002802PL (2018)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Sebastian, Florida May 31, 2018 Number: 18-002802PL Latest Update: May 16, 2019

The Issue The issue in this matter is whether the Department of Health should discipline Respondent’s certified nursing assistant license.

Findings Of Fact The Department is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of nursing assistance in Florida. See § 20.43 and chs. 456 and 464, Fla. Stat. Respondent is a certified nursing assistant (“CNA”) in the State of Florida, having been issued certification number CNA 16962. The Department seeks to sanction Respondent based on an incident that occurred on January 16, 2018. The Department’s Administrative Complaint specifically alleges that “Respondent struck Patient J.H. at least one time on Patient J.H.’s head.” The Department asserts that Respondent violated section 464.018(1)(h) by committing “unprofessional conduct” as defined by a rule of the Board of Nursing. Rule 64B9-8.005(13) defines “unprofessional conduct” to include using force against a patient or striking a patient. Section 464.204 authorizes the Department to discipline Respondent up to and including permanent revocation or suspension of her assistant nursing certificate. On the date of the incident, Respondent was working as a CNA at Avante, a rehabilitation center located in Melbourne, Florida. At that time, J.H. was a patient on hospice care at Avante. J.H. was staying in a semi-private room with two beds. J.H.’s roommate was D.D. At the final hearing, the Department represented that J.H. is mentally incapacitated. J.H.’s records from Avante indicate that she suffers from a variety of ailments which have resulted in an altered mental status, impaired ability to communicate, and impaired ability to control sporadic movements of her limbs. (Both D.D. and Respondent testified that J.H. had difficulty speaking.) Therefore, she is not able to testify about the incident. D.D., however, was present in the room on January 16, 2018. D.D. testified at the final hearing about what she observed between Respondent and J.H. on the evening of January 16, 2018. Initially, D.D. explained that the beds in the room she shared with J.H. were positioned side-by-side, about four-to-six feet apart. The beds were also separated by a privacy curtain. A sink was located on the wall opposite the beds. Above the sink was a mirror. When the encounter between Respondent and J.H. occurred, D.D. was sitting at the sink facing the mirror. Respondent was tending to J.H. in her bed. At some point, D.D. heard a sound coming from J.H.’s bed. When she turned to look, D.D. saw that J.H. seemed annoyed, and Respondent’s glasses were askew on top of her head. Respondent then left the room. About an hour later, after D.D. had returned to her bed, D.D. stated that Respondent reentered the room. Respondent walked over to J.H. who was lying in her bed. D.D. testified that she then heard Respondent say, “Don’t you ever hit me again.” D.D. then saw Respondent hit J.H. twice on her forehead with her balled-up fist. D.D. did not see J.H. move or react after Respondent struck her. At the final hearing, D.D. disclosed that she did not directly observe the incident because she was sitting in her bed, and the privacy curtain obstructed her line of sight. Instead, D.D. revealed that she watched Respondent’s actions through the mirror over the sink. D.D. commented, however, that when she sat up in her bed, she had a clear view through the mirror to J.H.’s bed. D.D. exhorted that she had no difficulty seeing Respondent hit J.H. D.D. was astounded by what she saw. She had no way of notifying anyone of the incident that night. The next morning, however, D.D. promptly reported the incident to her physical therapist. No evidence indicates that J.H. suffered any injuries from the encounter. At the final hearing, Respondent adamantly denied hitting J.H. Respondent further denied that she has ever abused a patient in her care or been accused of hitting a patient. Respondent asserted that she did not do anything wrong involving, or use any force against, J.H. Respondent stated that she has held a CNA license for over 20 years. She has worked at Avante since 2007. Respondent explained that when she approached J.H. in her bed on the evening of January 16, 2018, she discovered that J.H. had wet herself. Therefore, Respondent proceeded to change her. In that process, J.H. knocked Respondent’s glasses off her head. The glasses fell onto the bed. Respondent then reached down, grabbed her glasses, and replaced them on her face. She then finished changing J.H. and left the room. At the final hearing, Respondent claimed that D.D.’s statement is false. Respondent declared that D.D. is confused about the incident and, maybe, does not care for Respondent. Respondent also asserted that, because she was sitting in her bed, D.D. could not accurately see what happened when she changed J.H. Following the incident, Avante terminated Respondent’s employment. Based on the competent substantial evidence presented at the final hearing, the clear and convincing evidence in the record does not establish that Respondent hit J.H. on January 16, 2018. Accordingly, the Department failed to meet its burden of proving that Respondent committed “unprofessional conduct,” which would support discipline under section 464.204, Florida Statutes.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Department of Health, Board of Nursing enter a final order dismissing the Administrative Complaint against Respondent, Jacqueline Jean. DONE AND ENTERED this 30th day of January, 2019, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S J. BRUCE CULPEPPER Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 30th day of January, 2019.

Florida Laws (8) 120.569120.5720.43395.3025456.057464.018464.20490.801 Florida Administrative Code (1) 64B9-8.005 DOAH Case (1) 18-2802PL
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BOARD OF NURSING vs. BEVERLY CERALDI PONTE, 78-001142 (1978)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 78-001142 Latest Update: Mar. 21, 1979

The Issue Whether the license of Respondent should be suspended, revoked, or whether the Respondent should be otherwise disciplined.

Findings Of Fact Upon consideration of the evidence introduced and the testimony elicited, the following facts are found: Am administrative complaint was filed against Respondent Ponte by the Petitioner, Florida State Board of Nursing, on May 26, 1978 seeking to place on probation, suspend or revoke the LPN License No. 38103-1 held by Respondent Beverly Ceraldi Ponte. The complaint was amended at the public hearing to delete allegation number 5. "Respondent, while being searched at the women's annex of the jail, was found to be in possession of one glass vial of promethazine, a prescription drug." The complaint alleged that the Respondent, on several occasions, signed out for controlled narcotics for patients in her care and failed to properly account for the disposition of said narcotics; that Respondent converted a narcotic controlled substance to her own use and admitted to Dade County Police officers the theft of the drug; and that Respondent had in her possession at the time of her arrest a large quantity of syringes (tubex of from 50-75 milligrams of demerol) consisting of a total of 24, of which 7 were empty. The Respondent Beverly Ponte, a Licensed Practical Nurse, was employed at the Miami Heart Institute on January 16, 1978. On that date she signed out for a controlled narcotic, demerol, the generic term being meperedine, for four patients in her care. The medication sheets for the four patients failed to show that demerol or meperedine had been administered to the patients, and no disposition of the narcotics was shown by Respondent. On or about April 7, 1978 Beverly Ponte, the Respondent, was employed at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Florida. The evening supervisor, a Registered Nurse, was called at about 10:30 p.m. by one of the staff nurses to examine a narcotic sheet kept for patients under the care of the Respondent Ponte, the medication nurse on the shift that evening. The Vice President and Director of Nursing Service was then called and the police were notified that there was an apparent narcotic problem on the floor of the hospital. The police and the director questioned the Respondent. She was searched and on her person was found 24 syringes (tubexes or pre-loaded syringes) of the type used by the hospital. Respondent admitted that she had taken drugs that evening and could not tell the director which of the patients under her care had had medication. The Respondent was arrested and handcuffed. Thereafter an information was filed in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in and for Dade County, Florida charging Respondent with possession of a controlled substance (meperedine) and charged with a count of petit larceny. The Respondent entered a plea of nolo contendre and was found guilty of possession of controlled substance and petit theft and was placed on probation for a period of eighteen months, beginning May 2, 1978, with a special condition that the Respondent not seek employment where she personally had access to narcotic drugs and to also complete the outreach program which is a drug rehabilitation program. The proposed order of the Respondent has been considered and each proposed fact treated herein. Evidence as to the adherence to the condition of probation, the present employment of Respondent, and whether Respondent should be allowed to sit for nursing license examination is insufficient and no finding is made in regard thereto. No memorandum or proposed order was submitted by the Petitioner.

Recommendation Suspend the license of Respondent Ponte. DONE and ORDERED this 21st day of November, 1978, in Tallahassee, Florida. DELPHENE C. STRICKLAND Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings 530 Carlton Building Tallahassee, Florida 32304 COPIES FURNISHED: Julius Finegold, Esquire 1107 Blackstone Building Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Carl L. Masztal, Esquire Suite 806 Concord Building 66 W. Flagler Street Miami, Florida Norman Malinski, Esquire 2825 South Miami Avenue Miami, Florida Geraldine B. Johnson, R.N. Investigation and Licensing Coordinator State Board of Nursing 6501 Arlington Expressway, Building B. Jacksonville, Florida 32211 ================================================================= AGENCY FINAL ORDER ================================================================= BEFORE THE FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF NURSING IN THE MATTER OF: Beverly A. Ceraldi Ponte 3500 S. W. 47th Avenue CASE NO. 78-1142 West Hollywood, Florida 33023 As a Licensed Practical Nurse License Number 38103-1 /

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BOARD OF NURSING vs. JANE FRANCES O'LEARY, 89-002944 (1989)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 89-002944 Latest Update: Nov. 01, 1989

The Issue The central issue in this case is whether the Respondent is guilty of the violation alleged in the administrative complaint dated March 14, 1989; and, if so, what penalty should be imposed.

Findings Of Fact Based upon the testimony of the witnesses and the documentary evidence received at the hearing, the following findings of fact are made: At all times material to the allegations of the administrative complaint, Respondent has been licensed as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in the State of Florida, license no. PN 35080-1. The Department is the state agency charged with the responsibility of regulating the practice of nursing within the State of Florida. During the month of September, 1988, Respondent was employed as a night-shift LPN at Parkside, a residential treatment facility for psychiatric patients. On or about September 25, 1988, Respondent attempted to administer the morning medication to a resident patient, J.L. The patient refused the applesauce (which contained the medicine) and struck the Respondent across the wrist with great force. J.L. had been scheduled for a pass (an opportunity to leave the grounds) that day, but following the incident described in paragraph 3, Respondent decided to revoke J.L.'s privilege. When Respondent informed J.L. that the pass was revoked, J.L. became very agitated. Respondent summoned a fellow worker, Pressoir Berrouet, to assist and to restrain J.L. At some point in time between the activities described in paragraphs 3 and 4, Respondent went to her personal automobile and retrieved a stunning apparatus which she owns for her self-protection. Respondent took the "zapper" or "stun gun" to the patio area of the facility where Mr. Berrouet had secured J.L. in a chair. While J.L. was not restrained by bonds (physical restraints are impermissible at this type of facility), Mr. Berrouet had his hands on the patient's arms so that she was effectively pinned and unable to exit the chair. By this time, Lilli McCain, a day-shift employee at Parkside, had arrived at the facility. She observed Respondent approach J.L. who was still pinned in the chair on the patio. Ms. McCain observed a "black something" in Respondent's hand and witnessed Respondent touch J.L. with the instrument. She then heard J.L. scream out, "you pinched me." Respondent had purportedly "zapped" J.L. Moments later, Ms. McCain observed a red mark on J.L.'s chest. Mr. Berrouet had his back to Respondent through out the time of the incident described in paragraph 6. Consequently, he did not see the Respondent touch the resident, J.L. He did, however, hear a click noise which immediately preceded the scream from J.L. Respondent was upset at having been struck by J.L. Subsequent to the events described above, she resigned from her employment at Parkside. Respondent admitted to Laurie Shifrel, the nursing supervisor at Parkside, that she had used a "zapper" on the resident, J.L. Respondent also told Deborah Moon, the residential program coordinator for the Henderson Mental Health Center (a company which owns Parkside), that she had used a "zapper" on the resident, J.L. At hearing, Respondent testified that she did not use the stunning apparatus on J.L. but admitted she had taken the instrument onto the property to frighten J.L. The more compelling proof demonstrates, however, that Respondent did use the stunning apparatus on J.L. Parkside policy did not require residents to take medications against their will. If a resident refused medication, the proper procedure was to note that information on the patient chart so that the physician could be informed. Restraints were not used at Parkside to control resident behavior. In the event a resident were to become uncontrollable, the operating procedures required that the nursing supervisor be called to the facility or 911 for Baker Act referral depending on the severity of the resident's misconduct. J.L. did not have a history of becoming physically abusive at Parkside. It is not acceptable nursing practice to strike a psychiatric patient or to use a shocking device to curb undesirable behavior. Such conduct falls below the minimal acceptable standard for nursing care. Further, given J.L.'s history, it would be inappropriate to attempt to scare J.L. by a threatened use of such a device. Respondent was sincerely remorseful that she had brought the device onto the Parkside property. Evidence regarding a proper penalty, in the event a violation were found to have occurred, was not offered at the formal hearing.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing, it is RECOMMENDED: That the Department of Professional Regulation, Board of Nursing enter a final order finding the Respondent guilty of the violation alleged, placing the Respondent on probation for a period of one year, requiring the Respondent to attend and complete such CE courses as may be appropriate, and imposing an administrative fine in the amount of $500.00. DONE and ENTERED this 2nd day of November, 1989, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. JOYOUS D. PARRISH Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalache Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 2nd day of November, 1989. APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER CASE NO. 89-2944 RULINGS ON THE PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT: Paragraph 1 is accepted. The portion of paragraph 2 which is addressed in finding of fact paragraph 3, is accepted; otherwise rejected as irrelevant. Paragraph 3 is accepted. Paragraph 4 is accepted. Paragraph 5 is rejected as irrelevant and unnecessary to the conclusions reached herein. Paragraphs 6 through the first four sentences of paragraph 9 are accepted. The fifth sentence of paragraph 9 is rejected as contrary to the weight of the credible evidence. The last sentence of paragraph 9 is accepted. Paragraph 10 is accepted. The first sentence of paragraph 11 is accepted. The remainder of paragraph 11 is rejected as contrary to the weight of the evidence or irrelevant. The first sentence of paragraph 12 is accepted. The remainder of the paragraph is rejected as hearsay, irrelevant, or contrary to the weight of the credible evidence. To the extent the facts are set forth in findings of fact paragraphs 3 through 8, paragraphs 13 through 22 are accepted; otherwise rejected as hearsay, irrelevant, or unnecessary to the resolution of the issues of this case. The first two sentences of paragraph 23 are accepted. The remainder is rejected as irrelevant or hearsay. Paragraph 24 is accepted. Paragraphs 25 through 30 are accepted. RULINGS ON THE PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENT: None submitted. COPIES FURNISHED: Lisa M. Bassett Senior Attorney Department of Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe, Suite 60 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0729 Jane Frances O'Leary 5295 15th Terrace, N.E. Pompano Beach, Florida 33064 Judie Ritter Executive Director Board of Nursing 504 Daniel Building 111 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Kenneth E. Easley General Counsel Department of Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe, Suite 60 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0729 ================================================================= AGENCY FINAL ORDER ================================================================= STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION BOARD OF NURSING DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, Petitioner, vs. DPR CASE NO.: 0106973 DOAH CASE NO.: 89-2944 JANE F. O'LEARY, Respondent. /

Florida Laws (3) 120.57120.68464.018
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BOARD OF NURSING vs DIAHANN L. JAMES, 91-000100 (1991)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Miami, Florida Jan. 04, 1991 Number: 91-000100 Latest Update: Dec. 03, 1991

The Issue Whether Respondent committed the offenses set forth in the Second Amended Administrative Complaint and, if so, the penalties that should be imposed.

Findings Of Fact At all times relevant hereto, Respondent, Diahann James, held license numbered 1266532 as a registered nurse (RN) and held license numbered 36309-1 as a practical nurse (PN). Both of these licenses had been issued to Respondent by Petitioner and entitled Respondent to engage in the practice of nursing within the scope of her licensure in the State of Florida. Respondent's RN license was, at the time of the formal hearing, suspended following Petitioner's order of suspension entered December 13, 1990. This suspension was based on Respondent's alleged failure to comply with the terms of her previously established probation. Respondent's PN license has been on an inactive status since April 1, 1983. Respondent has until April 1, 1993, to seek reactivation of her PN license pursuant to Rule 210-14.005(1), Florida Administrative Code. Unless reactivated, her PN license will permanently expire after April 1, 1993. On February 15, 1985, Respondent's RN license was suspended pursuant to an order entered by the Board of Nursing (Board) as the disposition of the Department of Professional Regulation's (DPR) Administrative Complaint Number 0051651. On June 23, 1986, Respondent's RN license was conditionally reinstated pursuant to an order of the board, contingent upon Respondent's submission of a favorable psychological evaluation. On August 11, 1986, Respondent submitted a satisfactory psychological evaluation and her license was reinstated effective August 27, 1986. Upon reinstatement, Respondent's RN license was placed on probation for a period of two years subject to specific terms and conditions. Respondent did not submit the quarterly reports required by the terms of her probation and the Board filed a complaint with DPR against Respondent on April 22, 1988, based on her failure to comply with the terms of her probation. On October 18, 1988, DPR filed Administrative Complaint 0098524 against Respondent based on the complaint the Board had filed on April 22, 1988. On April 1, 1989, Respondent's RN license 1266532 became inactive due to Respondent's failure to apply for renewal. In May 1989, Respondent applied for reactivation of her RN license. Accompanying this application was an affidavit that Respondent had executed on April 3, 1989. This affidavit affirmed that she had earned the continuing education hours during 1987-89 to meet the requirements set by DPR for renewal of her license. At the Board's request, Respondent submitted copies of continuing education certificates from Psycho- Awareness Continuing Education Provider as documentation that she had met the continuing education requirements as represented by her affidavit dated April 3, 1989. The continuing education certificates submitted by Respondent had been altered to reflect her participation and attendance at these continuing education programs in 1988. Respondent attended these programs not in 1988 (which would have met the continuing education requirements), but in 1986 (which would not meet the continuing education requirements). The affidavit Respondent signed on April 3, 1988, was false, and the certificates she submitted in support of that affidavit were altered. Respondent's submitted continuing education certificates were deemed to be forgeries by the Board. On June 23, 1989, Respondent was advised that her continuing education certificates were unacceptable, that her license remained on an inactive status, and that she was not entitled to work as a nurse. In July 1989, Respondent worked as a registered nurse at Cedars Medical Center, Miami, Florida. Respondent did not inform the Board's probation supervisor of her employment at Cedars Medical Center, even though the terms of her probation required her to do so. Respondent answered "no" on the Cedars Medical Center employment application to the question of whether her license had ever been revoked, suspended, or placed on probation. At no time during the term of her employment at Cedars Medical Center did she reveal that her licensure was on an inactive status and on probation. During the course of her employment at Cedars Medical Center on July 11-12, 1989, and on July 25-26, 1989, (these events occurred during the night shift) Respondent wrote telephone orders, allegedly from physicians, for various medications for several different patients. Respondent signed at least two of said telephone orders with the name of "L. Hemingway", a coworker. Respondent submitted these telephone orders to the pharmacy and obtained various medications, including controlled substances. The physicians named by Respondent on the telephone orders denied giving Respondent authorization to order those medications on the dates specified, and none of said orders were an existing part of the patients' records. On July 28, 1989, Respondent was confronted by her superiors regarding the numerous discrepancies that had been discovered through the pharmacy regarding her deviation from the normal procedure for obtaining and administering medications. Respondent denied any diversion of drugs and further denied writing the fraudulent telephone orders. Respondent was then asked to submit to a urine test, and she submitted a urine sample under controlled conditions. The urine sample was thereafter tested using appropriate methodology and equipment. Her urine tested positive for cocaine, meperidine (Demerol, a schedule II controlled substance, and pentazocine (Talwin, a schedule IV controlled substance). Respondent did not produce any valid prescriptions to account for the positive results of her urinalysis. On August 1, 1989, Respondent's employment at Cedars Medical Center was terminated. On July 28, 1989, the Board filed a Final Order in DPR case 0098524, the case DPR had filed against Respondent's RN license on October 18, 1988. This Final Order extended Respondent's existing probation for a period of two years and imposed conditions of probation similar to those initially imposed on August 27, 1986. On August 27, 1989, Respondent's RN license, which had been on an inactive status since April 1, 1989, was reactivated, but remained on probationary status. In December 1989, Respondent was employed at Doctors Hospital, Coral Gables, Florida, as a registered nurse. Respondent failed to inform her probation supervisor of her employment as a nurse, though she was required to do so by the terms of her probation. On December 4-5, 1989, Respondent worked the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at Doctors Hospital. The narcotic records on which Respondent signed out for narcotics for patients under her care and the medication record on which she charted the medication for these patients were falsified to reflect that these patients had received more narcotics than had actually been administered to them. These false records, for which Respondent was responsible, permitted Respondent to obtain excess narcotics from the hospital's pharmacy. On January 18, 1990, Respondent rendered a urine specimen for drug analysis pursuant to the terms of her probation. The subsequent analysis tested positive for propoxyphene (Darvone, a schedule IV controlled substance). Respondent provided no valid prescription to account for the positive result of her urinalysis. On March 1-2, 1990, Respondent was employed at Coral Gables Hospital, Coral Gables, Florida. Respondent failed to inform her probation supervisor of her employment, although she was required to do so by the terms of her probation. While working the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at Coral Gables Hospital, on March 1, 1990, Respondent admitted to her nursing supervisor that she had self-administered 150 mg. of Demerol. Respondent was accompanied to the Emergency Room where she received medical assistance. The nursing supervisor immediately began a review of Respondent's patients' charts. From this review, it was established that Respondent had obtained 250 mg. of Demerol, and that the patients for whom Respondent had signed out the narcotics did not possess physicians' orders for same. Respondent falsely charted on the medical records of two patients the administration of Demerol. On March 8, 1990, Respondent rendered a serum sample for drug analysis at the request of Coral Gables Hospital. Said specimen subsequently tested positive for the presence of Demerol. On July 15, 1990, Respondent rendered a urine specimen for drug analysis, pursuant to the terms of her probation. The preliminary results of that testing detected the presence of certain controlled substances and were classified as presumptive positive. The specimen Respondent had given was not of sufficient quantity to permit the completion of testing, and the preliminary findings were not confirmed. On December 13, 1990, Respondent's R.N. license was suspended due to her failure to comply with the terms of her probation. Based on the expert testimony presented at the formal hearing, it is found that Respondent is an impaired individual suffering from chemical dependency; that Respondent's practice of nursing is below the minimum standard of safe patient care for the State of Florida; and that Respondent is unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients because of her chemical dependency.

Recommendation Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that a Final Order be entered which revokes Respondent, Diahann James's license as a registered nurse (number 1266532) and which revokes her license as a practical nurse (number 36309-1). DONE AND ORDERED in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, this 18th day of July, 1991. CLAUDE B. ARRINGTON Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 18th day of July, 1991. APPENDIX The proposed findings of fact submitted on behalf of the Petitioner are adopted in material part by the Recommended Order. The only post-hearing submittals by Respondent were in the form of two brief letters addressed to the undersigned, one filed May 8, 1991, and the other filed May 30, 1991. To the extent that either letter is construed to contain proposed findings of fact, those proposed findings are rejected as being either irrelevant, unsupported by the record, or contrary to the findings made. COPIES FURNISHED: Tracey S. Hartman, Esquire Roberta Fenner, Esquire Department of Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 60 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792 Diahann L. James 676 N.W. 48th Street, No. 4 Miami, Florida 33127 Judie Ritter, Executive Director 504 Daniel Building 111 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Jack McRay, General Counsel Department of Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 60 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792

Florida Laws (3) 120.57464.016464.018
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF NURSING vs MONIQUE BAYNES, R.N., 04-001098PL (2004)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Gainesville, Florida Mar. 30, 2004 Number: 04-001098PL Latest Update: Sep. 21, 2024
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF NURSING vs KIMBERLY KING, R.N., 01-004815PL (2001)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:St. Petersburg, Florida Dec. 13, 2001 Number: 01-004815PL Latest Update: Sep. 21, 2024
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