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Nurse suspended after medication discrepancies

MARATHON COUNTY (WAOW)--The state suspends a Mosinee woman's nursing license after Board of Nursing finds she was improperly taking pills from two area hospitals.

According to a Department of Regulation and Licensing press release, a BON investigation found that Michelle Svoke dishonestly got hold of prescription drugs for her own use.

Below is the entire release from the Department of Regulation and Licensing:

MADISON (PRESS RELEASE)--Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL) Secretary Celia Jackson announced today that the Board of Nursing (BON) has indefinitely suspended the license and privileges of Michelle Svoke to practice as a registered nurse.

In a Final Decision and Order approved January 28, 2010, the BON found that Svoke improperly obtained controlled substances for her own use while working at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in 2008 and 2009 and while working at Saint Clare's Hospital, Weston in 2008 and 2009. 

Aspirus and Saint Clare's each confronted Svoke individually after discovering inconsistencies in her tracking of medications she dispensed to patients. Svoke acknowledged she obtained more medication than was needed for patient use and kept the rest for her own use while reporting the extra as having been "wasted" (disposed of). In 2008, Aspirus allowed Svoke to return to work subject to several conditions, including a requirement for random drug screening and a prohibition on dispensing controlled substances.  Svoke was terminated on May 8, 2009, by Aspirus for violating the terms of the agreement she had with the facility.

 "We take it very seriously when health care professionals are found to be diverting drugs from patients for their own use," said Secretary Jackson.  "This type of action violates the trust we expect to have from those responsible for the health and welfare of others."

Svoke has an opportunity to have the suspension stayed after three months, meaning she would be allowed to practice if she received drug and alcohol treatment, maintained sobriety, submitted to drug and alcohol screens and met other limits and requirements outlined in the BON order. Svoke, who would be subject to at least five years of monitoring by DRL and the BON, agreed to the discipline imposed on her.

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