Nursing Board Disciplines Five Nurses

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Five nurses have been disciplined by the state Board of Examiners for Nursing for misconduct ranging from sleeping on the job to abusing heroin or stealing from patients.

The board last Wednesday suspended the registered nursing license of Adrian Kozikowski of New Britain because, state records show, he left a shift in July at Autumn Lake Healthcare in New Britain and fell asleep or lost consciousness due to drug use.

Between April and July, he abused alcohol, marijuana and Ecstacy, records show, so the state Department of Public Health concluded his practice as a nurse posed a “clear and immediate danger” to the public.

The board also suspended the license of Lisa Fabrizio, an RN from Monroe after concluding that she posed a danger as well. While working at Lighthouse Home Healthcare in Old Saybrook, she took property from the home and residents between March and May, records show. She also abused heroin to excess between May and August, records show.

The board also:

• Placed the license of RN Melissa Thiede of East Lyme on probation for four years, because nearly a year ago, she was diagnosed with opioid dependence, records show. She must undergo random drug testing and receive therapy during the probation.

• Placed the license of Amy Hulton, an RN from New Haven, on probation for three years. Records show she had previously had her license suspended due to alcohol abuse. She will have to undergo therapy and random drug testing while on probation.

• Reprimanded Patricia Wentland, an RN from New Hartford, because in January and February, she failed to document the disposal of controlled substances while working at Bristol Hospital, records show. An evaluation showed no evidence that Wentland had abused drugs.

• The board dropped all charges against Cherish Ostrosky, an RN from Oxford, because she has voluntarily surrendered her license. She was arrested during a traffic stop in Monroe May 19 and told police that she had used crack cocaine this year, records show.

 

2 thoughts on “Nursing Board Disciplines Five Nurses

  1. This should NOT be posted! Connecticut has a program for healthcare providers to seek help for addictions. The program ensures anonymity for individuals who struggle with the disease of addiction, while seeking treatment for their addictions. SHAME on the Register Citizen and Connecticut Health I-Team for breaking the anonymity of these struggling individuals. While I agree they should be suspended from caring for others until they can care for themselves, these articles should never have been written.

    Terri Cutler BSN RN CCRN

  2. I can see it’s a disease, and as a medical board you must acknowledge it also. They all need to be treated for the disease and not put in the public’s eye as criminals. They already paid a hefty price in the loss of their license. Why do you leave this posted for all to see. Please review your disregard for these fallen nurses and do what’s right.