Nicole Renae Cross sentenced for stealing medication at St George Hospital
A former medical staff worker has put her career on the line after blatantly taking pills from a rural hospital’s medicine cabinet.
Police & Courts
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A Caloundra West woman has lost her job as a nurse at a regional Queensland hospital for stealing medication while on the job.
Medical staff at St George Hospital in the Balonne Shire, four hours west of Toowoomba, saw Nicole Renae Cross take the pills when she visited the medication room while on the night shift on March 13.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told on Monday that two other nurses, who were filling scripts for patients, heard the 39-year-old say “time to go to the pharmacy” and “time to get my crazy pills” before she took 10 tablets of a prescription drug called venlafaxine.
Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said hospital staff reported the theft and an investigation started.
Security footage captured the moment Cross took the pills.
Detectives raided Cross’ home at St George on March 21 and uncovered one of the tablets after Cross told police where it was kept.
Sergeant Grigoris said Cross told police she stole the tablets as she could not afford to have the scripts filled as she was actually prescribed it.
The former aged care worker was charged with stealing by clerks and servants and pleaded guilty to the single charge in court on Monday.
Defence solicitor Michael Robinson said Cross lost her employment due to the charge after moving to the rural town to be a nurse.
He said the Caloundra West woman, who made comprehensive admissions to police, worked as a disability support worker but wanted to return to the field of nursing.
Magistrate Anna Smith took into account Cross’ circumstances but told the 39-year-old she was in a position of trust and knew if she took the pills she was going to set herself up for a criminal offence.
She was ordered to perform 40 hours’ of community service with no conviction recorded.
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