Alicia Kisselbaugh Tennessee nurse high on fentanyl probation

Tennessee nurse, Alicia Kisselbaugh at Vanderbilt University Medical Center placed on probation after turning up to work high on fentanyl.

A Tennessee nurse who allegedly turned up to work high on fentanyl last year has been placed on probation according to a recent disciplinary review board meeting. 

Alicia Kisselbaugh, a resident nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has been allowed to remain on the job after she turned up last November with a ‘sweaty, flushed face, purple and blue-tinged hands, confusion, eyes rolling back in her head, and appearing exhausted.’

Her co-workers sent Kisselbaugh to the emergency room, according to Scoop Nashville.

A urine test taken soon after revealed the worker having taken fentanyl.

Fentanyl, a synthetic form of heroin, is a highly addictive opioid that is prescribed to treat severe pain.

Considered 100 times more powerful than morphine, fentanyl is one of a number of synthetic opioids that has been blamed for thousands of deaths nationwide every year.

A recently released disciplinary ruling revealed Kisselbaugh being permitted to continue working on a probationary basis.

Not immediately clear is how Kisselbaugh obtained the often prescribed drug. To date there has been no suggestion she may have illicitly obtained the drug illicitly from her place of work as did one recent Tennessee nurse, caught stealing patient’s medications. 

Come February, Kisselbaugh began a three-year monitoring program during which she will be required to stay off drugs.

After completion of the program, Kisselbaugh must get approval from the monitoring program to have her nursing license fully restored the dailymail reported.

During this period, Kisselbaugh will not be permitted to practice nursing in any other state. 

The Board of Nursing has agreed to allow RN Alicia Kisselbaugh to return to work on probationary status. In November, she presented to work as a Neuro ICU RN w/her eyes rolled back in her head, sweaty, with a flushed face, and… https://t.co/4JwYru2PlE pic.twitter.com/8W8h5TADFv

— Scoop: Nashville (@scoopnash) June 17, 2019