State suspends Beloit nurse's license

By GAZETTE STAFF Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

BELOIT — State officials have indefinitely suspended the license of a Beloit woman to practice as a registered nurse.

Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing announced Tuesday the Board of Nursing's order against Monica S. Cleveland.

According to a news release:

The Board of Nursing found that Cleveland began diverting narcotics from her place of employment April 4 and continued until her employer discovered the thefts May 5.

Cleveland stated that she was stockpiling the drugs for a suicide attempt.

The Board of Nursing reprimanded Cleveland on April 2 for diverting two non-narcotic drugs from her place of employment. She claimed to have used the drugs for pain and swelling in her hands.

"We can't have medical professionals, who are responsible for keeping patients healthy and safe, diverting medications for their own use," Jackson said in a statement.

The order allows Cleveland to apply for a stay of the suspension after six months if she can prove to the board she is receiving psychiatric treatment, maintaining sobriety and is submitting to drug/alcohol screens.

She would be allowed to practice only under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse or other licensed health care professional approved by the Board of Nursing. The order also would require her employer to send quarterly performance reports on her to Department of Regulation and Licensing.

To have the suspension lifted, Cleveland would have to practice without any violations of the order for five years.

Cleveland also was ordered to pay $250 to the state to cover the costs of the disciplinary proceedings. Cleveland agreed to the Board of Nursing order.

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