Melbourne psych nurse Louisa Stokes reprimanded after going to work drunk, dodging drug tests

A Melbourne psych nurse must return a negative drug test before she is allowed to work again.

A Melbourne psych nurse will cop regular alcohol and drug tests after she was sprung treating patients while drunk. Picture: iStock

A Melbourne psych nurse who was sprung treating patients while drunk and dodging drug tests has been reprimanded.

Louisa “Lou” Stokes was first suspended in April 2018 after she attended work drunk and admitted to a psychologist that she had used illicit drugs.

Stokes’ first suspension was revoked in November 2018 and replaced with conditions on her registration after she demonstrated “insight into her actions”.

However, Stokes was suspended again in June 2019 after she returned a positive drug test as part of her regular testing obligations.

The second suspension period was lifted while Stokes was on maternity leave in December last year.

Louisa ‘Lou’ Stokes. Picture: Facebook

Stokes fronted VCAT last month in an attempt to stop the Nursing Board from slapping her with another six-month suspension, arguing she had already received sufficient punishment.

Russell Ball, for Stokes, submitted his client had demonstrated “considerable insight” into her conduct and had taken “significant steps” to address the issues.

Mr Ball said these steps included continuing the drug-testing regimen required by the board while suspended and at her own expense.

Mr Ball rejected the board’s submission that Stokes had been wilfully non-compliant, arguing his client had worked as a casual employee between November 2018 and June 2019.

The tribunal was told Stokes worked “irregular and inconsistent” hours, which made it “extremely difficult” to comply with the board’s requirement of four tests per shift.

Mr Ball also submitted his client failed an alcohol test earlier this year after she ate a cake which contained liquor.

Mr Ball compared the false positive to athletes accidentally returning positive drug tests after taking innocent medications.

James Stoller, for the board, submitted Stokes’ “apparently wilful noncompliance” could be characterised as “professional misconduct”.

Stokes, currently on maternity leave, told the tribunal her “lifestyle” changed after her second suspension in June 2019.

Stokes said, if suspended further, she would provide a hair test prior to her nursing return which “should be enough” to prove she’s been “clean”.

Stokes also raised doubts about the accuracy of her drug tests after one test returned the presence of codeine and morphine.

“This is a case where the nurse did clearly and it is accepted did have use issues with alcohol and illicit substances previously,” Senior member Jonathan Smithers said.

”(Stokes) has been on a journey, no longer in the relationship which gave rise to the issues, is in a stable family relationship (and) has two children.”

The tribunal reprimanded Stokes and ordered she must return a negative hair test before she is allowed to work again.

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