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HOLLAND, MI – A former registered nurse has resigned and has been placed on professional probation following an investigation of substance abuse by Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Marguerite Boersma resigned from Holland Hospital on Oct. 5, 2015 and began a 1-3 year term of professional probation on April 1, 2017.
The LARA complaint details six incidents dating from Sept. 9, 2015, to September 28, 2015, four of which have to do with the failure to administer morphine and Dilaudid, both Schedule II controlled substances.
In the first incident, the complaint states, Boersma withdrew four milligrams of morphine from a patient’s Pyxis medication dispensing system and failed to document the administration and wasting of the medication.
In the second, Boersma withdrew 10 milligrams of morphine from another patient’s Pyxis and failed to document administering the medication. In that case, she documented wasting two milligrams of the medicine, according to the complaint.
In the third incident detailed in the complaint, Boersma withdrew two milligrams of Dilaudid from a patient’s system and failed to document the administration or wasting of the medication. Three days later, she withdrew another two milligrams and documented wasting the medication. She also documented administering one milligram of Dilaudid to the patient.
In another incident, a coworker reported seeing Boersma standing over the sink with a vial and a syringe.
After the final incident, on Sept. 28, 2015, Boersma was suspended. She was asked by hospital staff to take a drug test.
According to the complaint, Boersma responded that she would test positive because she had taken narcotics to treat an abscess in her mouth.
On Nov. 3, 2015, Holland Hospital referred Boersma to the Health Professional Recovery Program for evaluation and possible treatment. In mid-December of that year, Boersma was diagnosed with mild alcohol use disorder as part of that treatment program. She was recommended to start substance abuse counseling, but failed to do so.
In April 2016, when Boersma was employed at Freedom Village in Holland, staff saw an open bottle of vodka in her bag, the complaint states. Two weeks later, staff again saw a bottle of vodka in her bag.
Boersma resigned from her job at Freedom Village in lieu of termination, according to the complaint.
In September 2016, the LARA investigation brought three counts against Boersma. The complaint found that she was negligent and failed to exercise due care to safely and skillfully practice the health profession, that she failed to meet the minimum standards for practicing the health profession and that she has a substance abuse disorder.
Boersma admitted that the allegations from the investigation were true, and she was cited with violating three sections of the Public Health Code.
LARA ordered that Boersma be placed on probation for a minimum of one year, but not more than three years. She was also fined $250.
The disciplinary subcommittee from LARA that oversaw Boersma’s case put the order into effect on March 2. Boersma’s probationary period began at the beginning of the month.