SWFL nurse accused of misusing drugs at 3 hospitals

NAPLES, Fla.- The state has placed an emergency restriction on the license of a nurse accused of misusing powerful painkillers at three of Southwest Florida’s biggest hospitals.

Since January 2015, Derrick Anderson has been let go from three hospitals for abusing his position as a nurse.

The Florida Department of Health says Anderson’s issues began at NCH Healthcare System in Collier County where in just one week, there were seven incidents involving Anderson failing to give drugs to patients as prescribed by a doctor.

Anderson was terminated by NCH on January 28, according to state officials, and he later began working at Gulf Coast Medical Center in June 2015.

Between June 24- July 12, Anderson is accused of dispensing and administering “prescribed medication to patients without documenting pre or post pain assessment of those patients,” on at least 11 occasions. Among the medications were Dilaudid, toradol, morphine, and Ativan, officials detailed.

Anderson documented he administered a larger dose of morphine to a patient than was prescribed on at least one occasion, officials said.

Anderson was terminated from Gulf Coast Medical Center on July 29 but was later hired in the Intensive Care Unit at Physicians Regional Medical Center in October 2015.

Staff members suspected Anderson was abusing drugs at the hospital, the state health department said.

Nurses say Anderson would fill a syringe with drugs and disappear into the staff bathroom for long periods of time. Blood spatter and bloody paper towels were later found in the restroom, state health officials said.

During a drug test administered by the hospital, Anderson tested positive for drugs used to treat pain, health officials said.

The state is currently working to permanently revoke Anderson’s ability to work in hospitals.

Anderson refused to comment on the investigation, saying he’s currently working with a lawyer.