Registered nurse Darren Justin Lourensen banned from treating patients over theft charge

A Queensland registered nurse has been banned from treating patients and must not handle or administer strong pain killers and other restricted drugs after he was charged with stealing while working as a public servant.

Darren Justin Lourensen had the restrictions imposed by the state’s Office of the Health Ombudsman which announced them on its website on June 21

A Queensland registered nurse has been banned from treating patients and must not handle or administer strong pain killers and other restricted drugs after he was charged with stealing as a public servant.

Darren Justin Lourensen, who most recently worked in Meadowbrook, a suburb in the City of Logan, had the restrictions imposed by the state’s Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) which announced them on its website on June 21.

Days after the announcement Lourensen appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court to face a charge of stealing by persons in the public service.

The stealing is alleged to have occurred on January 20 this year.

His case has been adjourned to July 24 for mention.

The conditions of his work imposed by the OHO include that he “not practise in any role requiring direct patient contact” rather he use his knowledge to practise in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles.

He is also banned from possessing, supplying, administering, handling, dispensing, accessing or checking any monitored medicine listed in Schedule 2, Part 4 of the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021.

He does not currently have OHO approval to practise in any employment or practice location, the June 21 statement says.

He graduated with a nursing degree from Griffith University in 2015, according to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency website.

The decision will continue to have effect until the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal sets aside the decision or the OHO removes the conditions.