Nurse's License Revoked for Stealing Pain Meds

The state has revoked a Mission Viejo nurse's license after she admitted to stealing pain medicine meant for patients at Hoag Hospital, according to a report released last month. The nurse also tested positive for drugs following a drug treatment attempt.

Atalie Mitchell AKA Atalie McGary mishandled medicine for seven patients at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach in April 2009, according to a complaint filed before the state Board of Registered Nursing. Mitchell was fired from Hoag April 15 2009. She later admitted to stealing opiates before seeking treatment, according to the state.

On April 4, 2009, at 9:50 a.m., a hospital visitor found a bloody needle cap in the visitor's women's restroom, sitting on top of a toilet paper dispenser.

Soon after, a nursing assistant found a syringe sitting next to the chair where Mitchell had been sitting. Seconds later, another RN discovered a different syringe on the other side of the same chair.

Four days later, Mitchell admitted to a hospital attorney that the syringes were hers, and that one was filled with the drug Digoxin.

The hospital launched an internal investigation and found Mitchell had removed pain medicine for patients who never received the medicine. She later admitted to stealing opiates from the hospital.

In July 2009, Mitchell submitted to a drug rehablitation program. As part of the terms of the program, she agreed to abstain from alcohol, painkillers and any other mind-altering substance. On March 18, 2011, and again on April 5, Mitchell tested positive for the pain killer Buprenorphine.

Mitchell can no longer serve as a nurse in California, and has been ordered to pay for the investigation and enforcement of her case.