Despite a warrant and a grand jury presentment against her five months ago, a travel nurse fired by Ballad Health last July for stealing narcotics intended for patients got another job out of state and allegedly did the same thing—and questions remain about the case that put dozens at risk.
Ballad acted on evidence Jacqueline Brewster had stolen narcotics from Johnson City (Tenn.) Medical Center—firing her, reporting her, and sending about 100 patients letters telling them to test for blood-borne diseases due to Brewster's alleged actions. Ballad also sent a news release that said the hospital system had fired a travel nurse for "improperly handling controlled substances."
But Brewster's name wasn’t made public until a similar case against her last month in West Virginia.
