A Wisconsin operating room nurse’s license has been suspended after she was caught allegedly working legally drunk at least twice, WGBA TV reported Tuesday.
Cindy Elizabeth Kocian, worked at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wisc., allegedly had a blood alcohol level of .095 on Oct. 22, 2007.
“She was working in the operating room while under the influence of, and impaired by, alcohol,” according to state records. “Respondent was immediately placed on a leave of absence, which continued until she resigned on Nov. 6, 2007.”
State records indicate Kocian was hired as a nurse in the surgery department of Community Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, Wisc., in July 2008.
“Co-workers reported smelling alcohol on her breath and from liquid in a sports test taken from which the respondent had been drinking,” according to state records. “A breathalyzer test was taken and showed the respondent had a blood alcohol level of .119.”
The state Department of Regulation and Licensing suspended Kocian’s nursing license for an indefinite period of time.
“It’s a major cause of concern,” David Carlson, of the Wisconsin Department of Licensing and Regulation, told the television station. “You are dealing with people’s lives, people’s health. You need these professionals as sharp as you can.”
According to the television station, Kocian has not been charged with a crime.
“(The Hospital) has a zero tolerance policy for substance abuse and if we encounter this issue, we assit the employee to resolve the issue immediately,” said a statement from Community Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, Wisc.
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